PRESS RELEASE: ALBANY, NY — Senator George Borrello blasted Senate Democrats for advancing two dangerous pieces of legislation that would fast-track the release of criminals from prison. The so-called “Earned Time Act” (S.342) and the ‘Fair and Timely Parole’ bill (S.159) moved forward today through the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, despite serious concerns about their impact on public safety, justice for victims, and accountability for violent offenders.
“These bills are just the latest chapters in Albany Democrats’ ongoing crusade to put criminals before the law-abiding public,” said Senator Borrello. “This isn’t about justice, nor is it about rehabilitation — it’s about dismantling accountability and rewriting the rules to benefit violent offenders, all while making innocent victims and law-abiding New Yorkers pay the price.”
“It is especially offensive that these bills are moving forward during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. At a time when we should be recognizing the victims and families who’ve suffered from the impact of violent crime, these bills seek to elevate and benefit the perpetrators of crime,” said Borrello. “It is a slap in the face to every victim who is still coping with the trauma of what was done to them or their loved one.”
The bills that passed the committee include:
• S159, the so-called “Fair and Timely Parole” bill which would dramatically weaken the parole process by requiring a presumption of release unless the Parole Board can prove the individual poses a “current and unmanageable risk” to public safety. The Board would no longer be able to consider the inmate’s original crime — no matter how vicious or brutal — or the scope of the inmate’s full criminal record, victim impact statements, or many other factors in making their decision.
• S342, the "Earned Time Act," would allow inmates to reduce their sentences by up to 75 percent through good time and merit allowances, regardless of the severity of their crimes. Unlike the current system, the bill would also prevent revocation of the credits, even if the inmate engages in misconduct behind bars. Importantly, these changes would apply retroactively to all current inmates.
“These bills aren’t just a step backwards — they are the next nail in the coffin of public safety in New York. Since 2019, we’ve seen how Democrats’ reckless bail reforms have turned our neighborhoods into breeding grounds for crime, and now these bills would only accelerate that trend by making it easier for dangerous criminals to walk free,” said Borrello. “This is how you deepen a crime crisis, something that Democrats seem determined to do by advancing their radical agenda, no matter the cost to the public.”
