Senator Montgomery Delivers Keynote Address At The Interchurch Center’s 2nd Annual Re-Thinking Re-Entry II Conference

Senator Montgomery delivered the Keynote Address at the Interchurch Center’s 2nd Annual Re-Thinking Re-Entry II Conference and focused her remarks on the importance of engaging the formerly incarcerated in the development of criminal justice and re-entry policy. 

The Senator also discussed her GED bill that was signed into law. The statute requires the NYS Department of Correctional Services to provide prisoners with an opportunity to complete a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) prior to release on parole, conditional release, post release supervision or presumptive release. 

"It is crucial that people have access to educational and vocational program opportunities while incarcerated. People coming home from prison must have a strong support system in order to succeed moving forward. Having successful re-entry programs, with proper funding, led by the formerly incarcerated is key to reducing the recidivism rate, which is currently the driving force of mass incarceration," said Senator Montgomery.

The conference was convened and hosted by The Interchurch Center (TIC) in cooperation with Positive Community Magazine. The formerly incarcerated gathered with expert panelists representing the city and state levels, services providers, and leaders of faith based organizations at an all-day conference to discuss the pressing need for services for formerly incarcerated men and women.

The Co- Convening Partners of this conference consists of Bard Prison Initiative, The Redemption Center, Inc., Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions, Greenhope Services for Women, Inc., The Osborne Association, College and Community Fellowship, Providence House, Inc., Hour Children, Inc., The Riverside Church in the City of New York, Women’s Prison Association, New York Theological Seminary, and The Fortune Society.

For more information about The Interchurch Center, visit http://interchurch-center.org

To learn more about Senator Montgomery's Criminal Justice agenda, visit: 

https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/velmanette-montgomery/legislation

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-and-senator-roxanne-j-persaud-discuss

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-convenes-connecting-dots-networking-event

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-and-senator-roxanne-j-persaud-continue

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/video/velmanette-montgomery/ny-state-senator-velmanette-montgomery-discusses-passing-raise

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-discusses-raise-age-and-school-prison

To view part 1 of Senator Montgomery and Senator Roxanne J. Persaud's discussion on criminal justice and reentry issues, visit https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator...

To view part 2 of Senator Montgomery and Senator Roxanne J. Persaud's discussion on criminal justice issues, focusing on women who are incarcerated. visit https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator....

To download a copy of Senator Montgomery's CONNECT Guide to Criminal Justice Resources, download the PDF