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 20 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, as reported by The New Republic.

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

“As a group, these individuals are particularly vulnerable to the devastating effects of COVID-19 or are close to the point at which they would otherwise be entitled to release,” David E. Loftis, Attorney-in-Charge of post-conviction litigation at The Legal Aid Society. “Releasing these individuals from prison will drastically diminish the risk that they will be exposed to the coronavirus.”