Governor Kathy Hochul Friday signed the ‘Less Is More Act’ and ordered the release of 191 inmates on Rikers Island for non-violent technical violations of their parole, WABC 770 reported
The new law is meant stop the state from putting ex-cons back behind bars for missing appointments with their parole officers, violating curfew or testing positive for drugs or alcohol. The measure is set to go into effect on March 1, but Hochul said the ongoing crisis at the island lockup needed things to mover faster.
“They have served their sentences under the dictates of the new ‘Less Is More’,” Hochul said. “But they shouldn’t have to wait for the enactment date.”
In recent weeks there have been reports of chaos, violence and death at Rikers, which Hochul called “deeply disturbing.”
Hochul is also ordering the transfers of nearly 200 inmates from Rikers to other state prisons after Correction Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi admitted reform efforts in the jail can’t be achieved under the existing conditions.
