The Legal Aid Society, in light of the quickly escalating public health crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered within New York State prisons, has recently submitted 40 more applications seeking emergency clemency from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and will continue to submit such applications on behalf of clients incarcerated in state prisons, are reported by the New York Daily News.

Legal Aid has asked for expedited review of these applications and has asked that the Governor effectuate the immediate release of these individuals.

“It’s imperative that Gov. Cuomo and (the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) take decisive action to grant release for those incarcerated New Yorkers especially vulnerable to COVID-19. All of these individuals’ conditions warrant this immediate relief, especially as COVID-19 explodes at prisons around New York State infecting our incarcerated clients and correction staff alike at an unprecedented rate,” said David Loftis, Attorney-in-Charge of Post-Conviction Litigation at The Legal Aid Society.