Albany, NY – The New York Parole Board has granted release to David Gilbert, an incarcerated elder who has spent decades in prison transforming his life and the lives of countless others. In response, Rosemary Rivera, co-executive director at Citizen Action of New York, released the following statement:
“The New York State Parole Board’s decision to release David Gilbert is a sigh of relief for David, his loved ones and the advocates and community that support parole reform. We often see people receive death by incarceration due to long retributive sentences and being routinely denied parole. We applaud the board for fairly weighing all the factors and stipulated by law in their decision to release David. The parole board must continue to treat others who meet all the requirements for release with the same grace. We praise this decision to reunite David with his loved ones. We know the growth he has experienced will be an asset to his community.”