Senators Rob Rolison and Dean Murray, both Republican members of the New York State Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee, have sent a letter to Daryl Towns, Chairman of the NYS Board of Parole. The letter urges the Board to reject a proposed rule change that would alter how parole is considered for violent offenders who committed crimes as minors.
The proposal would require the Parole Board to give more weight to the age and “brain development” of offenders rather than focusing primarily on the threat they pose to the community, the nature of their crime, or its impact on victims. This would affect individuals serving life sentences for crimes committed before turning eighteen. Life sentences in New York are reserved for serious offenses such as murder and sexual assault.
Recent reports indicate an increase in both victimization and perpetration of violent crimes among teenagers following New York’s Raise the Age legislation, which shifted how young offenders are treated in the justice system.
“During my time as a police officer in the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, I saw firsthand the lifelong scars left on victims and families by crimes so violent and heinous that a life sentence is the only just outcome. The Parole Board’s duty is to protect the public and stand with victims—not to create a path for offenders who have already proven they are capable of unimaginable harm. Public safety must be the top priority for government, never an afterthought. This proposal tips the scales toward the offender at the expense of the community. I stand with victims, and with Senator Murray, in urging the Board to reject it outright,” said Senator Rob Rolison, Ranking Member of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee.
“The number one responsibility of the NYS Parole Board should be to ensure the public’s safety. This rule change flies in the face of that responsibility. I am also extremely concerned that this rule change very much mirrors changes included in legislation, (S.159) “Fair and Timely Parole”, that was introduced, but did not pass, the NYS Senate earlier this year. Rather than going through the body that represents the people of New York, the state legislature, the parole board decided to bypass and ignore the legislature and adopt this controversial change, on their own, through a rule change. I fear this will have deadly consequences,” said Senator Dean Murray, Member of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee.
“Now is not the time to adopt a policy which seeks to negate criminal culpability for violent offenders who have already demonstrated a willingness to endanger their communities and inflict serious harm on others. The Parole Board must instead prioritize public safety and ensure that dangerous criminals, regardless of age, are not released back into the community,” according to their letter.
The public comment period on this proposed rule remains open until October 12th, 2025. Senators Rolison and Murray encouraged residents opposed to this proposal to submit comments by email at rules@doccs.ny.gov.
