How the Manhattan DA Election May Rock the City’s Criminal Justice Status-Quo Thirteen policy questions reveal the rifts in tomorrow’s Democratic primary, and the space for criminal justice reforms. The Political Report Jun 21, 2021
On NYPD Oversight, Manhattan’s D.A. Candidates Are Split Candidates running in Tuesday’s election vow to sideline untrustworthy officers and purge past convictions. The outgoing DA has drawn fire for his handling of police misconduct. Sam Mellins Jun 17, 2021
How Alvin Bragg Rejects Bill Bratton and Broken Windows Policing The Manhattan DA candidate makes his case that more incarceration does not bolster public safety, one week from the Democratic primary. Daniel Nichanian Jun 16, 2021
Syracuse School Board Elections Heat Up Over Police Debate Student activists pushing for police-free schools in Syracuse, New York, are backing Twiggy Billue, a candidate in the June 22 primary who wants to follow school districts across the country that have cut ties with cops. Rachel M. Cohen Jun 11, 2021
Cuomo’s Nominee to New York’s Highest Court Alarms Criminal Justice Reformers Progressives are warning that the governor’s appointment of the Nassau County district attorney would intensify the court’s pro-prosecution bent. Kyle C. Barry Jun 07, 2021
This Public Defender Has Fought the Manhattan D.A.’s Office. Now She Wants To Lead It. Eliza Orlins, who is running in the June 22 primary, lays out how she would overhaul the "prosecutorial-industrial complex." Daniel Nichanian Apr 19, 2021
Cuomo Concedes on Two Big Wins for Criminal Justice Reform The embattled New York governor, who advocates describe as a longtime impediment to reform, signed bills to legalize marijuana and considerably restrict solitary confinement in the state. Veronica Riccobene Apr 01, 2021
‘Life Sentences Are Death Sentences.’ How This D.A. Candidate Wants to Decarcerate Manhattan Dan Quart makes the case for addressing the "systemic breakdown" in New York’s prisons and jails with shorter sentences, ending cash bail, and other reforms. Daniel Nichanian Mar 11, 2021
In Manhattan D.A. Race, Momentum Builds to Decriminalize Sex Work Most candidates running in the June election for DA say they would not prosecute cases involving consensual sex work, a striking sign of local activists’ success. Sam Mellins Mar 04, 2021
BLM Activist Shakes Up Sheriff Race in County Known for Deadly Jails After 30 jail deaths in 16 years, the sheriff election in Erie County, New York, could force a reckoning. Raina Lipsitz Feb 04, 2021
Will Manhattan’s Next D.A. Break Ranks With Tough-on-Crime Colleagues? New York’s association of state DAs has fought measures such as bail reform, but three candidates in Manhattan’s DA election say they would not join it. Sam Mellins Feb 02, 2021
New York Ends a Punishment That Traps People in Poverty A new law will stop the suspension of driver’s licenses when New Yorkers fail to pay fines. Jonathan Ben-Menachem Jan 05, 2021
New York Senator Makes the Case for Defunding the NYPD “These changes won’t be made unless we demand them loudly and relentlessly,” says state Senator Julia Salazar. Daniel Nichanian Jun 01, 2020
A Powerful D.A. Fought New York’s Reforms. His Challenger Wants to Push Them Further. Matt Toporowski, up against the former head of the DA’s association, says he would “walk down the halls with advocates and lobby for progressive reform.” Daniel Nichanian Apr 30, 2020
When People in Prison Can Vote, Officials “Treat Them With Some Respect” A New York bill would abolish felony disenfranchisement. That would mean law enforcement is no longer the arbiter of who gets to vote. Daniel Nichanian Nov 22, 2019
New York Adopted Pretrial Reforms. Its DA Races Will Decide Who Implements Them. New York DA candidates starkly disagree on bail and discovery reforms in Queens and three upstate counties, Dutchess, Monroe, and Ulster. Daniel Nichanian Oct 10, 2019
Tiffany Cabán’s Success in Queens Shines Spotlight on Grassroots Organizing New Yorkers voted in their DA primaries. Daniel Nichanian Jul 03, 2019
The Queens D.A. Race Shakes Up New York's Legal System: "This is Just the Beginning" Our roundtable probes the stakes of the Queens DA election for criminal justice reform: “If there is room for reform anywhere in the boroughs of New York City, it is in Queens.” Daniel Nichanian Jun 20, 2019
New Yorkers from Queens to Rochester Vote for Prosecutor This Year: A First Preview Daniel Nichanian Apr 18, 2019
New York Sheriff Who Joined ICE Program May Coast to Re-Election Sheriff Patrick Russo faces no challengers. But the state legislature could act to restrict local cooperation with the federal agency. Daniel Nichanian Apr 11, 2019
New York Lawmakers Overhaul Pretrial Rules but Reforms Falter Elsewhere Daniel Nichanian Apr 03, 2019
"We Desperately Need Reform Regarding Discovery Rules:" A Q&A with Shani Curry Mitchell Daniel Nichanian Mar 07, 2019
Legislative roundup (Feb. 28 edition): from Indiana, New Hampshire, New York, Utah, and Vermont Daniel Nichanian Feb 28, 2019
New York City Plan for Overdose Prevention Centers Runs into Resistance by Some Officials In the face of an overdose epidemic, Bronx DA Darcel Clark rejects a harm reduction strategy and Governor Cuomo chooses inaction. Vaidya Gullapalli Jan 23, 2019
Reviewing the 2018 Results: Bail Reform Momentum Builds in Texas and New York Daniel Nichanian Nov 10, 2018
2018 Election Preview: District Attorney of Rensselaer County, New York Daniel Nichanian Nov 01, 2018
7 progressives Defeat New York Senators. What’s Next in Albany? Alessandra Biaggi and Zellnor Myrie explain the change they want to bring. Daniel Nichanian Sep 20, 2018
