New Hour in the News
Riverhead declares state of emergency amid migrant crisis in New York City
Amid the migrant crisis in New York City, Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar declared a state of emergency and signed an executive order banning hotels and other facilities from accepting migrants. NewsdayTV’s Cecilia Dowd reports.
May 17, 2023
Via:
Newsday
New York's Imprisoned Women Brave Risks to Sue Sexual Abusers Under New Law
New York’s Adult Survivors Act briefly waives the statute of limitations to file sexual abuse lawsuits. Some of New York’s imprisoned women are risking retaliation from guards in order to file cases alleging horrific treatment at the hands of the state
April 18, 2023
Via:
The Appeal
Bail reform continues to be divisive issue for state legislators
Bail reform continues to be divisive issue for state legislators Legislators in New York are renewing their debate over bail reform. In Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State address, the governor called for changes in bail reform.
January 31, 2023
Via:
News 12 Long Island
New policy on food packages for inmates in state prisons brings protests from families and advocates
A new state policy says families of inmates in state prisons cannot bring them food anymore, provoking protests among relatives and advocates who say it is denying them a basic right.
December 4, 2022
Via:
Newsday
Women Bear the Brunt of New York's Prison Care Package Ban
New restrictions have made it harder to send food to incarcerated people. Advocates say the policy is doing disproportionate harm inside women's prisons, and to women on the outside who often serve as caretakers.
November 15, 2022
Via:
The Appeal
Bellone: Police body cameras a 'win-win scenario'
Body cameras will hold officers accountable, shield cops from false complaints of misconduct, and build public trust in Suffolk police, County Executive Steve Bellone said while announcing the rollout of a key element of the department’s reform plan on Thursday, calling it a “win-win-win scenario.”
June 2, 2022
Via:
Newsday
"From Prison to Productive"
It Is What It Is - Season 1, Episode 6 "From Prison to Productive - It’s The New HOUR For Women And Children!". On this episode of “It Is What It Is”, Cindy will be chatting with two fabulously inspiring women - Serena Liguori, Executive Director and Anitria Blue, Community Ambassador Liaison, both representing New HOUR for Women and Children on Long Island.
May 12, 2022
Via:
It Is What It Is
U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph Justice Action Webinar 2022
Join a the CSSJ Family for a presentation and a moderated panel where participants will learn about cash bail, pretrial detention and reform, and sentencing - with a focus on women's and juveniles' experiences.
Panelists include Serena Martin-Liguori, Executive Director, New Hour for Women & Children & - Anitria Blue, Community Ambassador Liaison, New Hour for Women & Children
May 4, 2022
Via:
U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph
Police reform: County officials, activists split on progress
One year after Nassau and Suffolk counties submitted sweeping police reform plans ordered by former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis police custody, county officials and community activists are split over how much progress has been made.
April 9, 2022
Via:
Newsday
Advocates for inmates: Action needed from Gov. Hochul as COVID surges in Bedford Hills prison
Serena Martin-Liguori, the executive director for New Hour for Women and Children, says the number of cases among inmates is close to 70 - so she's asking Hochul to grant clemency for some of the women to reduce the population.
January 9, 2022
Via:
News 12
HERSTORY: First Black woman named NYPD commissioner
Mayor-elect Eric Adams announced his choice for New York City’s next police commissioner Wednesday morning. Adams named Nassau County Police Chief of Detectives Keechant Sewell, 49, as the incoming police commissioner. She will be the first Black woman to hold the role in the history of the NYPD.
December 15, 2021
Via:
Amsterdam News
Activists rally on LI and NYC for clemency and changes in parole policies
Advocates for former and current inmates rallied Tuesday on Long Island and in New York City for clemency for eligible prisoners and a pair of bills that would change parole and release policies for rehabilitated offenders.
November 23, 2021
Via:
Newsday
New Hour: A Fresh Start For Incarcerated Women With Serena Liguori
Incarcerated women deserve to move forward with life. We can have a fresh start, be happy and live meaningful lives if only we know how to find the much-needed resources. Join Julia Lazareck and the Executive Director of New Hour Serena Liguori as they delve into seeing yourself in a different light, thinking healthy thoughts and moving forward.
August 11, 2021
Via:
Prison: The Hidden Sentence
Nassau jail death leads to contraband questions
On Dec. 28, 2018, 28-year-old Kevin Rollins, an inmate at the Nassau County Correctional Facility in East Meadow, died of a fentanyl overdose after he was found in cardiac arrest in his cell, where he was awaiting sentencing after violating the terms of his deal with Nassau’s Drug Treatment Court following a 2016 arrest.
May 19, 2021
Via:
Medium
Advocates rally on Mother’s Day for women behind bars and their families
Last Saturday, a coalition of advocates and lawmakers rallied on Mother’s Day weekend at a Rikers Island bus stop in Brooklyn and outside Bedford Hills prison for women in Westchester to support women and mothers behind bars and their families.
May 13, 2021
Via:
Amsterdam News
In Lisa Montgomery, formerly incarcerated women see echoes of their own stories: ‘She never had a chance to just live’
There are few who would defend Lisa Montgomery’s actions from Dec. 16, 2004. On that day, Montgomery, then 36, drove to the home of a pregnant woman she had befriended online, Bobbie Jo Stinnet, and strangled her with a piece of rope.
January 12, 2021
Via:
The Lily
New Hour: Making Positive Change for Those Impacted by Incarceration
When Serena Liguori was 19 years old, she became incarcerated. During her time in prison, she quickly realized that access to health care and other services was inequitable and lacking compared to care one can get elsewhere.
October 7, 2020
Via:
Good Counsel Services
Protesters: LI Senate Dems must use law enforcement contributions for reforms
Dozens of activists Thursday called on Long Island's Democratic state senators to reinvest years of campaign contributions from law enforcement into bail funds and groups protesting police brutality.
June 18, 2020
Via:
Newsday
Advocates cheer 50-a reform while law enforcement urges caution
Long Island civil rights advocates cheered Tuesday as New York lawmakers repealed a state law considered one of the nation's strictest in shielding police disciplinary records, even as local officials cautioned that officer safety must remain a priority.
June 10, 2020
Via:
Newsday
Advocates fight for release of vulnerable incarcerated people, increased testing, more accountability in Nassau County jail
Advocates for incarcerated people held an action outside the Nassau County Jail on Thursday calling for the release of vulnerable people as well as more transparency on the part of the county
May 27, 2020
Via:
The Island Now
Advocates for Nassau jail inmates call for daily coronavirus updates
Advocates for inmates at the Nassau County Correctional Center called on County Executive Laura Curran to provide daily updates on the number of coronavirus cases in the East Meadow jail and for the release of vulnerable people during a protest Thursday in Mineola.
May 21, 2020
Via:
Newsday
Inmates' advocates call on Nassau to release the COVID-19-vulnerable
Long Island advocates for the incarcerated rallied outside the Nassau Correctional Center on Friday, calling on county officials to release inmates who are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus from the East Meadow jail.
April 24, 2020
Via:
Newsday
Open Letter to Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio from the Justice for Women COVID-19 Task Force
Dear Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio,
We are pleased that the Governor has announced that incarcerated people in
DOCS facilities over the age of 55, having 90 days or less on their sentence, and not
guilty of a violent or sexual related crime will be released on a rolling basis.
April 21, 2020
Via:
Justice for Women COVID-19 Taskforce
Officials: Bail reform helping stem virus spread in LI jails
New York’s controversial bail reform — and the resulting decline in the state's jail population — has helped slow the spread of the coronavirus among those behind bars locally, officials said, even as new cases have exploded elsewhere on Long Island.
April 10, 2020
Via:
Newsday