This week, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) voiced his concerns for Assembly Bill 4319, a bill that would permit the Board of Parole to evaluate all inmates over the age of 55 for possible parole release. Inmates eligible would be those who have served at least 15 years in prison regardless of completing their minimum sentence.

The bill was introduced a week before parole was granted to domestic terrorist Judith M. Clark, a known cop killer who only served about 37 years out of her original 75-to-life prison sentence. Judith Clark was a member of a communist organization in the early eighties and aided in the Brink's robbery of 1981, causing the death of two police officers and a security guard.

“At this point there are better incentives for criminals than law-abiding, tax-paying legal residents. Our criminal justice system was put in place to protect and secure our communities, and this bill compromises that by potentially allowing dangerous felons to walk our streets,” said DeStefano. “As a legislator, I am embarrassed that fellow colleagues have decided to consider this bill over the countless other proposals that would bring about meaningful change in New York. I can only hope that this proposal does not make it to the floor for a vote.”