Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #lessismoreny
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On the day we passed #LessisMoreNY, Jose Mejia Martinez, a 34yo jailed on a parole violation, died on Rikers
Now, 3 mo later, @GovKathyHochul signs the bill with an expected implementation of March '22
How many more will die while we wait?
Implement Less is More immediately 🧵
Now, 3 mo later, @GovKathyHochul signs the bill with an expected implementation of March '22
How many more will die while we wait?
Implement Less is More immediately 🧵
Jose was the 3rd man jailed on a minor parole violation to die on Rikers in 2 months
Another, Thomas Braunson III, was 35 when he died on Rikers on April 19
He was a new father — his daughter, Vinessa, was born just 3 months before his death
thecity.nyc/2021/6/14/2253…
Another, Thomas Braunson III, was 35 when he died on Rikers on April 19
He was a new father — his daughter, Vinessa, was born just 3 months before his death
thecity.nyc/2021/6/14/2253…
Both Thomas & Jose were held on Rikers for alleged shoplifting — a low-level misdemeanor
They died awaiting trial
Under NY’s parole laws, a criminal court judge couldn't have released them if they’d wanted to
Less is More gives judges discretion to grant their release
They died awaiting trial
Under NY’s parole laws, a criminal court judge couldn't have released them if they’d wanted to
Less is More gives judges discretion to grant their release
This is 76 yr old Gwen Levy who was returned to prison for not answering a call from her federal probation officer while in this computer class. They told her lawyer, “because she could have been robbing a bank, [we’re] going to treat her as if she was robbing a bank.” 
Gwen is one of about 4,500 people who were released from federal prisons last year to protect them from contracting the coronavirus. But she is the latest example of how systems of probation & parole perpetuate failure rather than facilitate success. washingtonpost.com/local/public-s…
Just want to add a correction: It is Gwen Levi, not Levy.
The first two people to die on Rikers Island were caged only bc of a “technical” parole violation. They committed no crimes.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/nyr…
Raymond Rivera, the second person to die on Rikers Island from COVID-19, was caged since last summer. For no crime. For a minor parole violation. Case dragged on & on. Finally, last Friday, parole lifted the hold. He was lying in a hospital bed. He died the next day.
Michael Tyson, the first person to die on Rikers from COVID-19, was caged simply for failing to report to his parole officer. That’s all. That’s what got him the death penalty. He was 53. thecity.nyc/2020/04/first-…
The first person to die on Rikers Island was caged only bc of a “technical” parole violation. He committed no crime. thecity.nyc/2020/04/first-…
The first person to die on Rikers is one of over 4000 currently incarcerated in NY for technical parole violations like curfew, failure to update a mailing address, hanging out w/ someone previously incarcerated. Cuomo could release them all if he wanted to.
NY is the leader in incarceration for "technical parole violations" (curfew, missed appointment). NY reincarcerates more than 48 other states.
1/3 of all new admissions to NY prisons.
5x nat'l average.
12x more likely if you're Black.
1/3 of all new admissions to NY prisons.
5x nat'l average.
12x more likely if you're Black.
Right now: @NYGovCuomo could order release of all those being held on technical (non-criminal) violations on Rikers Island. 666 of them last I checked. He should do so now to save lives. But they should never have been locked up to begin with. Some facts about parole violations:
In NY, if you violate any condition of parole, no matter how minor, you get remanded. Curfew. Failure to update your address. Positive test for marijuana. Spending time with someone with a criminal record. No possibility of release until a parole judge decides your fate.
Parole was initially designed as an alternative to incarceration. Parole officers were trained in social work. If you took a misstep, there wasn’t punishment. Services were stepped up. Now, parole officers are law enforcement. No funds for services. Only option: reincarceration.
