(WNY News Now) -ALBANY – Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C-Gowanda) called for members of the New York State Parole Board to do their jobs and protect the public during a press conference in Albany Tuesday.
Since 2017, the parole board has released 41 convicted cop killers. In 2022 nearly one in two criminals convicted of A-1 felonies, including murders, were released after just one parole board interview, meaning they had served their minimum sentence before being released.
“So almost one in two A-1 felons were released by the parole board after one parole interview. These are murderers and kidnappers being released onto our streets,” Giglio said. “The parole board is no longer following the proper guidelines for the release of incarcerated individuals. Community activists are now overruling the work of judges and juries.”
Each member of the parole board is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate for a six-year term. Giglio noted that since the Democrat party gained majority in the Senate in 2018, the parole board has released more violent felons following their initial parole hearing.
“The majority and the Governor think they are God. Maybe we should introduce legislation to create the New York board of resurrection. Then we could bring back all the people killed by these murderers so they would have the chance to be with their families again and grow old. Unfortunately, we can’t do that,” Giglio said.
According to statistics from the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), in 2013, 19 percent of class A-1 felons were released following their initial interview with the parole board. In 2020 that number rose to 38 percent and in 2021 it went up to 41 percent. In 2022, the parole board released 42 percent of convicted A-1 felons who appeared before the board after just one interview.
Class “A” Felonies include murder and kidnapping as well as serious drug felonies. The minimum sentence for a class “A” violent felony in New York is 15 years to life.
“The entire criminal justice system in New York has become subverted to pander to the offenders and their needs at the expense of victims. Anyone who would kill a police officer is a threat to society and should never breathe free air again,” Giglio said.
Giglio drafted a bill that would require at least one member who is a crime victim or a crime-victim’s advocate to be a member of the parole board. His legislation was blocked by members of the majority and never reached the floor of the Assembly for a vote.
“There is good and there is evil in this world. As elected officials, we have a responsibility to protect our constituents and defend the victims of crime and their families. Obstructing legislation that is written to protect victims and the general public underscores how deep the dysfunction in Albany is,” he said.
Giglio joined members of the Assembly and Senate minority conferences, crime victims and members of law enforcement at the press conference. They called for Gov. Hochul and members of the majority to stop obstructing common-sense legislation to protect crime victims and for parole board members to do their jobs.
“Law-abiding New Yorkers are suffering. Meanwhile, the parole board, whose job it is to make sure they aren’t releasing dangerous criminals into society, is releasing cop-killers and murders onto our streets,” Giglio said. “The parole board should be held accountable for who they release and where they release them.”
Assemblyman Joseph Giglio represents the 148th District, which consists of all of Cattaraugus and Allegany counties and portions of Steuben County as well. For more information, visit Assemblyman Giglio’s Official Website.
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