RELEASE: Five-Year Anniversary - Less Is More Act Overhauled New York’s Parole System to Reduce Incarceration & Improve Public Safety
Historic Reform Made Transformative Impact on New York’s Justice System By Reducing the Number of People Held in Jails for Technical Parole Violations by 80% and Reducing the State’s Parole Population by More Than 50 Percent
Measure has Made New York Safer, Fairer, and More Just
Albany, NY – Today marks the five-year anniversary of the signing of the historic parole reform measure, the Less Is More: Community Supervision Revocation Reform Act. One of the most comprehensive parole reform measures passed in the U.S., Less Is More restricts incarceration for non-criminal technical parole violations, strengthens due process for people accused of parole violations, and provides earned time credits for people on parole (see 2022 implementation report and appendix for details on the bill and campaign).
The #LessIsMoreNY campaign brought together a coalition that was a unique combination of people directly impacted by parole and incarceration, more than 300 groups across the state, District Attorneys representing more than half of the state’s population, and other law enforcement and corrections administrators – all working to reduce the use of incarceration for non-criminal technical parole violations, and strengthen reentry and public safety.
Five years after Governor Kathy Hochul signed it into law, the Less Is More Act has had a transformative impact on tens of thousands of New Yorkers in the justice system. Data from an upcoming report by Unchained, one of the groups that led the campaign, demonstrates the incredible, positive impact of the new law:
Since the passage of Less Is More, the number of people held in local jails for technical parole violations has declined by nearly 80%, compared to pre-pandemic numbers.
The number of people incarcerated in state prisons for parole violations declined by 84% between 2022 and 2025.
In 2022, six state prisons were closed due to the declining prison population, with Less Is More cited as a contributing factor.
Overall, New York's parole population has been cut in half since the provisions of Less Is More took effect.
All of this has occurred while the percentage of people on parole who returned to prison with a new sentence for a new crime has remained steady over the past decade, never rising above 3%.
Unchained’s new report on implementation of Less Is More is pending release later this month.
The impact of Less Is More during its first five years represents a major step forward in the fight to end mass incarceration and mass supervision, advance racial equity, and strengthen public safety in New York. New York continues to lead the shift from a punishment-based parole system to an incentive-based one, encouraging successful reentry and keeping communities safe.
Statements from bill sponsors, impacted people, and community and advocacy groups from the #LessIsMoreNY Coalition:
Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, Prime Bill Sponsor, said: "It has been five years since the Less Is More (LIM) Act was signed into law, and it remains one of my proudest legislative accomplishments to have brought more humanity into our supervision system. Less Is More has changed people's lives. It emphasizes rehabilitation instead of punishment as they re-establish themselves. Because of this law, thousands of people who were incarcerated based on minor violations are no longer trapped in our carceral system. I'm grateful for the advocates who fought to pass and implement this law and I'm excited to see what comes next."
Senator Julia Salazar, Chair of the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime, and Correction, said: “New York used to imprison more people for non-criminal 'technical' violations of parole – such as for missing curfew or for not being able to find employment – than any state in the country. It was a shameful practice that forced thousands of New Yorkers back into our brutal prisons. Thanks to the Less is More Act, formerly incarcerated individuals no longer have to fear a perpetual cycle of imprisonment while they adjust back into society, tens of thousands of New Yorkers have been released early from parole, and our parole population overall has been reduced by nearly 50%. There is still much more work to do to end our mass incarceration crisis, including expanding additional pathways toward release, but I’m proud to celebrate the impact Less is More has had on so many New Yorkers’ lives.”
Assemblymember David Weprin, said: “Five years later, the Less Is More Act has proven that smart criminal justice reform can reduce unnecessary incarceration, strengthen families, and give New Yorkers a fair chance to move forward. This milestone is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when our justice system prioritizes fairness, rehabilitation, and successful reentry. This law has helped thousands of New Yorkers move forward with their lives while strengthening families and communities. I am proud to recognize this important milestone and the advocates who worked tirelessly to make this possible.”
Emily NaPier Singletary, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Unchained, said: “As our forthcoming report demonstrates, less truly is more when it comes to parole. Five years after being signed into law, the Less Is More Act has dramatically reduced jail, prison, and parole populations without sacrificing public safety. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers and their loved ones have benefited from this transformative policy shift and no longer live in fear that a minor mistake will result in a return to incarceration. We are immensely proud of the broad coalition of advocates who worked to make this a reality, in particular those who have been directly impacted by parole. Now we urge the Governor and the Legislature to redirect the money saved by shrinking this system and invest in the resources that truly make our communities safe like affordable housing, public transportation, universal healthcare, strong public schools, and parks and other recreation spaces.”
Donna Hylton, Founder and President of a Little Piece Of Light, said: “5 years after its passage, the Less Is More Act stands as a testament to what is possible when we shift our focus from punishment to restoration. By dramatically cutting down unnecessary reincarceration for technical violations, this landmark law has allowed thousands of individuals to remain in their communities, rebuild their lives, and support their families. The Less Is More Act has proven that real public safety comes from empowering people, not cage-centric policies. Reducing the parole population by nearly 50% hasn't just transformed our legal system—it has restored dignity, stability, and hope to communities across New York that have been historically over-policed and over-incarcerated.
As we mark this 5-year anniversary, we celebrate the incredible progress made through the Less Is More Act, but our work is far from over. The immense success of this law shows us that decarceration and community investment work, and it must inspire us to keep pushing for transformative justice across our entire legal system.”
Michael Hendrickson, Member of the Katal Center, said: “The barriers that exist post-incarceration make it difficult for people to rebuild their lives. These barriers create a revolving door that keeps people incarcerated. If it hadn’t been for my determination and the community around me, that could have easily been my situation. After my release, I was able to go to school, earn my degree, and get a job to rebuild my life. It can be done, but if you suppress people, they don't ever get to see the light. What we did with the passage of the Less is More Act was a good part of helping close that revolving door to incarceration and create a path forward without the threat or risk of being incarcerated for a stupid reason and, in other cases, no reason other than a parole officer not liking you or wanting to reduce their caseload. When I was incarcerated, nearly 60 to 70 percent of the people there were being held on technical parole violations, and it was keeping prisons filled with people.
I benefited from the legislation I helped pass; I was on post-release supervision and was able to complete that encumbrance in half the time because I was credited for good time under the Less is More Act. This would not have been possible if I had left it up to DOCCS to decide. I was able to get a disability certificate from New York and move out of state. I am very proud of what we accomplished. I still remember speaking at virtual town halls, doing interviews, and speaking with politicians who, like the one who represented me at the time, did not support the legislation. No matter how good the bill was, they wouldn't budge, but in the end we still organized the folks who were moved and supported our cause. We managed to get enough votes to pass the bill and then get it signed. It’s been a huge win for everyone in the community!”
Della Smith, Member of the Katal Center, said: “Passing the Less Is More Act was monumental. It has impacted so many members in our communities. Through this legislation, we were able to make sure our incarcerated loved ones who were coming out were given a fairer shot to get their life back. As a mother of a son who is incarcerated, I worked on this legislation to give him a chance to move forward once he comes back home. It was an honor working with community members on this; it was a concerted effort, and we wouldn’t have gotten this win had we not been organizing together. Everyone has to do their part to make sure our community is represented, and we are there for the people that need us.”
Vincent Schiraldi, advisor to the Less is More Campaign and Commissioner of New York City's Department of Correction when Less is More was enacted, said: “Before Less is More was enacted, New York incarcerated more people for noncriminal violations of parole - things like staying out past curfew or associating with someone else with a criminal record, even if that was a relative - than any other state. This not only deprived people of their liberty unnecessarily but cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually. It also didn't protect public safety--over the past 5 years, shootings statewide have plummeted by 60% and homicides are down by more than a third. New York should now use the savings from Less is More to provide greater supports for people reentering their home communities from its prisons and other states should look at Less is More to reduce harmful imprisonment of people for noncriminal acts.”
Emelissa Curo, Member of the Katal Center, said: "As a member of the Katal Center, the Less Is More Act had a tremendous impact on my family. To this day, we still see and feel how destructive the criminal legal system can be, and how post-release supervision can feel like an extension of incarceration for so many of our loved ones. My family members did go through parole, but because of Less Is More, they didn’t have to experience it for as long or face the same harsh consequences. That made a real difference in their ability to come home, rebuild their lives, and move forward.
Working to pass Less Is More was a lot of work, but we got it done. I remember going after my Senator every chance I got, pushing him to support the legislation. We were fighting tooth and nail with legislators because we knew how important this was for our families and communities, especially for people who don’t have a voice or whose voices are being suppressed. This was the first time I organized with community members to make sure our voices were heard. I helped lead rallies outside the Governor’s office, and even after the legislation passed, we stayed vigilant because people tried to weaken or repeal it. Through Katal and this work, I learned that when people come together and refuse to stay silent, we can create real change. There is strength in standing together, especially for those who are often overlooked or unheard."
Zachary Katznelson, Executive Director of the Independent Rikers Commission, said: “The Less Is More Act proves once again that safety and fairness are mutually reinforcing -- and routinely locking people up for low-level violations is counterproductive. The Independent Rikers Commission is proud to have played a lead role in the drafting and passage of this historic law. We thank Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie for their leadership in making our state safer and more just.”
Courtney Burke, Member of the Katal Center, said: “I started working on Less Is More on behalf of my daughter and nephew who were both directly impacted by the criminal legal system. The passage of Less Is More has had a positive impact not only on my family but on the community as a whole, which is truly amazing. Both my daughter and nephew were released early from parole because of this legislation and have had the opportunity to rebuild their lives in such wonderful ways. You cannot measure the life impact of this legislation, but you can surely see it and feel it. My daughter got her bachelor's degree and is a few months away from getting her master's degree. She has her dream job working with kids who have come into contact with the criminal legal system and helps mentor them to flourish in their lives and community. My nephew is working full-time, got engaged, and bought a house. I am so proud of the lives they are building and look forward to seeing them grow even more. I remember looking forward to our community meetings where we would support each other and work together to reduce the number of people incarcerated and bring our loved ones home. We were there to build power, to love and support each other. We built a beautiful community, and it is something I will cherish forever.”
Susan C. Bryant, Executive Director of the New York State Defenders Association, said: “Over the past five years, Less is More has brought common sense and humane changes to New York’s punitive parole system. It is critical that we support and encourage people returning to our communities after incarceration by addressing barriers to re-entry and by providing earned time credits for success. There is still significant work to be done to transform our parole, corrections, and sentencing systems, but today it is important to recognize the strides that have been made since the passage of Less is More. The New York State Defenders Association will continue to work with defenders and advocates to ensure that the full scope and intent of Less is More is fulfilled.”
Michelle Jaskula-Stiles, Member of the Katal Center, said: “I was fighting to pass the Less Is More Act on behalf of my now-husband Ron. At the time, his parole officer was a nightmare who would use threats and instill fear of reincarceration to continue to punish him. They tried many times to keep us apart. He had requested that Ron not contact me until March 2026, which would have been the end of his parole. Thankfully, Ron was released early because of Less Is More, and we were able to get married. There are so many other guys I know who were also on parole and have thanked me for my work to pass the bill that eliminated the use of incarceration on technical violations and allowed them to end their supervision early. People make mistakes, and post-release all they want is to live their lives out and move forward.
I fought for two years to get this bill passed; I was calling senators and assembly members nearly every day to get them to support. It was truly an honor working with the other Katal members and feeling that camaraderie every time we would get on our Zoom meetings. I resonated so much with Ms. Della and how hard she worked as a grandmother on this. We worked our tails off together. I remember watching Governor Hochul sign the bill and crying. I was so emotional that Ron asked me why I was crying, and I said, ' You don’t know how hard we worked to get this win’. Together we made history!”
Lorraine Mc Evilley, Director of the Parole Revocation Defense Unit at the Legal Aid Society in New York City, said: “Five years ago, the Less Is More Act promised to end New York’s deeply punitive practice of incarcerating people for technical parole violations—a practice that, for decades, upended lives, separated families, and destabilized communities. Today, thousands of New Yorkers have been saved from incarceration for technical parole violations, and tens of thousands have earned their way off parole supervision early. This anniversary is a testament to what can happen when we reject punishment for punishment’s sake and enact reforms rooted in justice, dignity, and common sense.”
Bobbi Leigh, Member of the Katal Center, said: “It is amazing that it has been five years since Less is More was signed into law. Through our organizing, we were able to get prisons shut down and so many people released from incarceration. It was powerful to be a part of something like that. It opened me up as a person who now knows how much is possible when we come together for a greater purpose. The things I did for Katal are things I’ve never had the opportunity to do. Being recognized for having something to say is life-changing. I got the validation that I had a lot to offer because I did. For the first time in my life, I was front and center speaking at rallies about the experience of having loved ones incarcerated and on parole. We got the message out there, and as a result we won big.”
Kenneth Edwards, Manager of Leadership & Organizing, Center for Employment Opportunities, said: “Five years after Less Is More became law, we’ve seen the power of giving people a real chance to come home, work, support their families, and rebuild their lives. I know firsthand that freedom means more than leaving prison, it means having the opportunity to move forward. At the Center for Employment Opportunities, we see every day that when we remove unnecessary barriers and invest in people’s potential, families and communities are stronger. Less Is More proves that a person’s past should never be a life sentence.”
Avion Gordon, Member of the Katal Center, said: “ I am happy for the community I felt from knowing many loved ones have been changed for the better, fighting for the voiceless. It was the hardest but most satisfying thing I have ever been a part of.”
Ziyadah Amatul-Matin, Member of the Katal Center, said: “My brother, may he rest in peace, was the reason why I got involved with Katal and worked with other family members who were fighting for the well-being of their incarcerated loved ones. It feels great to have helped pass the Less is More Act to reduce the number of people being sent to jail and prison in NY for technical parole violations. It feels great to know we helped keep people safe in our communities and not put them in harm's way in jails & prisons. I learned so much from working on this campaign, and it helped me be a better advocate for my incarcerated loved ones.
The work that we did as a community was incredible. We were consistent, dedicated, and kept our integrity every step of the way without looking back. This was the first time that I attended a rally and made my voice heard. It is a powerful thing to come together to amplify our voices and demand justice. Rallying outside Governor Hochul's office to raise awareness of the harms our incarcerated loved ones were going through fueled my courage to fight. I truly appreciate the experiences and continue to fight for justice. I am grateful to Katal and all the members for granting me the space to do this work.”
Kevin Valentine, Member of the Katal Center, said: “In commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the Less is More Parole reform becoming law, I can recall being just recently released from an upstate prison and living with one of my sisters who had moved upstate on my behalf. I was on parole and adjusting to being in a new location while dealing with a rather strict parole officer in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were certain parole restrictions that I was not used to, and I believe that is what drove me to contact the Katal organization to find out more information about being on parole. Melanie was my contact person at the time, and I have been involved in criminal justice reform ever since. When my strict parole officer unexpectedly called me to let me know that I had finished parole, Melanie was one of the first people I called to give the good news. It is truly an honor to have organized with others to pass this bill that positively impacted my life and that of so many other New Yorkers”
Yonah Zeitz, advocacy director of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, said: “As the results show, Less Is More is working, and it is positively impacting tens of thousands of New Yorkers and their families, while maintaining public safety. Thanks to provisions of the Less Is More Act, less incarceration for technical violations means more justice, more safety, more families restored, and more possibilities for formerly incarcerated people to get back on their feet. The stories from our members in this release represent only a small fraction of the tens of thousands of New Yorkers benefiting from this law today.
The success of this reform is a result of the grassroots, statewide coalition featuring over 300 organizations that developed this legislation with input from an unusually diverse array of stakeholders, from directly impacted people and their families to advocates and experts, from district attorneys and correctional officials to activists and faith leaders and crime survivors and so many more. Together we organized across the state and fought tooth and nail in Albany to pass this law, and in the end we won. We know that the fight to advance justice and create safer communities for all New Yorkers continues, including the fight to shut Rikers and hold New York’s jail and prison watchdog agency accountable. But on this five-year anniversary, we’ll take a moment to celebrate this monumental and historic achievement.”
Background
Prior to Less Is More, there were more than 31,000 people on parole in New York. For decades, people on parole would face frequent disruptions to their reentry process because the parole system focused more on punishment than support. New York imprisoned more people than any other state—at more than six times the national average—for non-criminal “technical violations” of parole rules, like missing an appointment with a parole officer, being late for curfew, or testing positive for alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs. Across the state, Black people were 5 times more likely and Latinx people 30 percent more likely to be reincarcerated for a technical parole violation than whites. This practice cost New York State taxpayers more than $680 million annually with no commensurate public safety gains.
#LessIsMoreNY was a statewide coalition of community groups, service providers, and public safety experts who worked together to implement the #LessIsMoreNY Act. The #LessIsMoreNY campaign was led by the Katal Center and Unchained. For more information about the campaign, visit katalcenter.org/less-is-more-new-york.