Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, says Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order that restores voting rights to felons on parole “raises a number of concerns.” “Chief among them,” he said, “is the …
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Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, says Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order that restores voting rights to felons on parole “raises a number of concerns.”
“Chief among them,” he said, “is the unintended consequences of pardoning approximately 35,000 convicted felons could have on our communities. This plan smells of good politics over good policy.”
Under current law, Griffo said, an individual already can vote after a felony conviction while on probation or once they have completed parole.
“I don’t feel that it is too much for us to ask that an individual complete the terms and conditions of their release, which is an extension of their imprisonment and reintegration into society, before they can resume the normal functions of society,” Griffo said in a statement to the press Friday.
He said state statistics indicate that parolees “may not necessarily be ready to participate in society in an appropriate manner.” In 2016, 12.3 percent of those on probation were arrested for a felony within one year, and 3.3 percent were arrested for violent felony offenses.
“Similarly, in 2015, the two year felony arrest rate was 18.5 percent, of which 5.3 percent were for violent felony offenses. Lastly, the three year felony arrest rate for individuals on probation was 23.3 percent in 2014, with 7 percent of those arrests being for violent felonies. These numbers have remained constant since 2007,” said Griffo.
He said the governor’s order “is another example of executive overreach by this Governor. Unfortunately, this is a regular occurrence with this administration, which has done all that it can to advance its desired policies while circumventing the Legislature.”
Griffo represents the state’s 47th Senate District, which includes the towns of Massena, Brasher, Norfolk, Stockholm, Potsdam, Pierrepont, Russell, Clifton, Fine, and Pitcairn in St. Lawrence County, plus Lewis and Oneida counties.