Bill Text: NY J00771 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2023, as Workers' Awareness Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-04-27 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J00771 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J00771-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 771

BY: Senator COMRIE

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        October 2, 2023, as Wrongful Conviction Day  in  the
        State   of   New   York,  in  conjunction  with  the
        observance of International Wrongful Conviction Day

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official days that are set aside to acknowledge vital issues that affect
the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is rightfully  proud  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  October  2, 2023, as
Wrongful Conviction Day in the State of New York,  in  conjunction  with
the observance of International Wrongful Conviction Day; and

  WHEREAS,  Every  person is endowed with human dignity and value, and
this  day  raises  awareness  for  the  innocent   who   were   unjustly
incarcerated for a crime they did not commit; and

  WHEREAS,  Wrongful  Conviction  Day  is  24 hours dedicated to honor
those with a life stolen; and

  WHEREAS, The Innocence Project, an organization  with  the  goal  of
exonerating  citizens  serving sentences for crimes they did not commit,
set aside October 2nd as  Wrongful  Conviction  Day  in  2013  to  raise
awareness  and  inspire  change for remediation of this serious issue in
our State and Nation; and

  WHEREAS, Being wrongfully convicted not only affects the  individual
imprisoned,  but  also  their  family  and  communities; individuals and
community leaders are encouraged to focus on,  discuss,  and  brainstorm
remedies for this issue that has harmed so many lives; and

  WHEREAS,  Wrongful  convictions  have  been a pervasive issue in the
history of New York State's justice system, especially before the advent
of DNA testing; and

  WHEREAS, The injustice of being wrongfully convicted not  only  robs
an  innocent  person  of  their  life,  reputation, and dignity from the
perpetration of heinous crimes like murder or sexual assault  while  the
guilty  walk  free, it exaggerates existing prejudices against Black and
Brown communities as well as the intellectually disabled; and

  WHEREAS, Famous cases that were ruled in the State of New York  such
as  the  Central  Park  Five  in  1989  stand as an example to the gross
injustices that can occur in the legal system; and

  WHEREAS, Wrongful  Conviction  Day  also  honors  the  281  wrongful
conviction exonerations that have occurred in the State since 1989; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  beneficial  that  there  be  greater  awareness of
Wrongful Conviction Day and more should be done to increase awareness at
the local, State, and National levels to promote efforts  and  continued

commitment  to  the eradication of wrongful convictions; now, therefore,
be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  October  2,  2023,  as
Wrongful  Conviction  Day  in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of International  Wrongful  Conviction  Day;  and  be  it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.