Thousands of New Yorkers are in Prison for Life. These D.A. Candidates Want to Change That
Manhattan D.A. candidates vow to reduce lengthy sentences—but sharp differences between their approaches remain
Sam Mellins · April 28, 2021

"For years, the Manhattan DA has been pushing for long and life sentences," one advocate said. | Édouard Hue

Sam Mellins is senior reporter at New York Focus, which he has been a part of since launch day. His reporting… more
Also filed in
Electoral Politics
As Westchester Democrats weigh whether to endorse the former Republican, the party chair calls his critics a “lynch mob.”
A handful of state legislators made far more from second jobs than they did representing their constituents, a New York Focus analysis found. Find your rep in our database.
Keith Brown makes $142,000 representing his Long Island district — and about half a million representing corporate real estate interests.
Also filed in
Criminal Justice
The governor’s team coordinated meetings between her failed chief judge nominee and Senate Republicans in the days before a key committee vote, emails show.
Formerly incarcerated "peers" offer drug counseling to people in county jails — when they can get in.
A new bill would subject the state prison system to independent oversight for sexual assault complaints. The Senate has two weeks to bring it to a floor vote.
Also filed in
New York City
Police will receive photos of defendants with curfews and report alleged violations to District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Comptroller Brad Lander is scrutinizing the climate impacts of private equity investments — an area his counterpart in Albany has yet to address.
So-called “de-escalation units” were supposed to help people cool off after violent encounters. But months after their implementation, Rikers staff still use the old brutal methods.