fwd.us

Defending Bail Reform: In the budget cycle following the winter legislative session, Governor Hochul introduced sweeping changes to New York’s landmark 2019 bail reform law—proposing to expand judicial discretion and roll back key pretrial protections. These proposed rollbacks, part of a broader public safety package, sparked fierce debate and risked undermining the gains of criminal justice reform advocates. Through a comprehensive campaign alongside FWD.us, ASA orchestrated vigorous coalition building, strategic messaging, and targeted outreach. We conducted retail lobbying of legislators across the state, convened key meetings with legislative leadership and high-level staff in both the Governor’s office and the Legislature, and traveled statewide to engage moderate members, business groups, and unions. While the final budget included some concessions to tougher provisions, our efforts significantly softened the blow—narrowing the scope of rollbacks, securing critical clarifications, and preserving much of the integrity of bail reform.

Laying Groundwork for the Earned Time Act: Simultaneously, ASA supported FWD.us in advancing the Earned Time Act—a top-tier reform proposal intended to strengthen “good time” and “merit time” credits and shift New York prisons toward rehabilitation and reduced recidivism. Our team helped convene a broad-based coalition (including labor, law enforcement, and civil rights groups), developed resonant policy messaging, and rallied legislative support. These foundational efforts helped position the Earned Time Act as a policy priority in the Legislature’s criminal justice agenda. The bill’s momentum was evident when, in April 2025, the Senate’s Crime Victims, Crime & Corrections Committee passed it, signaling significant progress toward eventual enactment.