Natalie Peoples says DOP remains punitive and asks for culture change
Peoples says DOP promised in March to end punitive practices and provide more support, but she has not seen those changes 10 months into the administration. She asks DOP to keep communication open with defense counsel, expand alternatives to incarceration, and change court practices.
Up to five years of probation on a felony sentence, and oftentimes that is unnecessary.
Within five years, a person has usually completed all of their conditions of probation.
They need to be terminated from probation early, successfully.
And I say this because in order for a clean slate,
to actually take effect, the person has to be terminated from probation or parole so that they can get an earlier
ceiling of their convictions.
The same is true for misdemeanors.
A sentence of probation on a misdemeanor can last up to three years, which is at times inordinately long when a person has already satisfied all the conditions of probation.
And with that, I will complete my testimony.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Good morning, everyone.
My name is Natalie Peoples.
I'm the attorney in charge of youth justice policy and training at the juvenile rights practice of the Legal Aid Society.
Our juvenile practice combined with our criminal practice represents most of the children that are charged with crimes in New York City.
And we intend to submit written remarks in addition to what I say today.