Cuomo also announced an investigation into the exploitative practices of bail bondsmen

Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of Color Of Change:

“This executive order to restore the rights of people on parole is a step in the right direction, but Governor Cuomo has a long way to go in enacting substantive criminal justice reform.

Since 2017, we have been pushing Governor Cuomo to take an aggressive, holistic approach to criminal justice reform, including our call for him to investigate the corrupt bail industry and predatory practices of bail bondsmen that have locked up and capitalized on the indefinite incarceration up more than 100,000 people in New York. This executive order to restore voting rights of people on parole is a critical move towards repairing the broken systems that not only tears black families apart and robs them of economic potential and political power — but we are hesitant to celebrate until we hear concrete next steps from the Governor Cuomo and his plan to change this racist industry.”

Today’s announcement of the bail bondsmen investigation came with no concrete next steps, timeline, or specifics on the scope of the investigation. If it doesn’t investigate the industry, the systems that allow for this kind of exploitation will remain. Color Of Change, has and will continue to mobilize our members to push Governor Cuomo to strengthen his approach to criminal justice reform and tackle it holistically.”