New York Judges Face Confrontation with Brutality of the System They Sentenced Others To
A proposed new rule would require judges who have sentencing or detaining responsibilities in New York's unified court system to spend a day visiting correctional facilities every year. The initiative, backed by Judge Daniel Conviser and law professor Michael Mushlin, aims to bring transparency to a part of the justice system that is largely out of sight.
Conviser stated that judges frequently face difficulty with sentencing as it involves considerable discretion. He thinks visiting prisons and meeting with incarcerated people helps them grasp what they are actually doing. The new rule would explicitly require judges to see intake areas, solitary confinement units, food preparation areas, education quarters, exercise spaces, and visitation rooms. It also mandates that visits be spread across facilities throughout the state and include women's facilities.
The visits aren't supposed to be superficial or just a show. They are meant to be a chance for judges to have face-to-face conversations with prisoners and learn about their experiences firsthand. A group of judges, including Judge Dineen Riviezzo, took part in such a trip to Sing Sing maximum-security prison. Riviezzo stated that talking to the men there about their hopes, dreams, and remorse was valuable and helped her better comprehend the harsh realities of imprisonment.
Supporters of the new rule believe it could serve as an example for other states. A law professor associated with Pace University said he never experienced visits to prisons as profound as those taken by judges during this committee's trial runs. He stated that conversations between judges and prisoners were enlightening, allowing them to see their full selves rather than just being aware of the aspects they had seen when sentencing people to prison.
However, not all have welcomed the new proposal. Some judges think visits aren't necessary or should be voluntary. Conviser acknowledged both viewpoints: in some cases, distance might be beneficial for rational decision-making, yet it is also essential to be somewhat connected with the issue at hand.
Martin Horn, a former commissioner of New York City's Department of Correction, expressed support for the new rule, stating that bringing prisons and their conditions into focus would be "welcome and necessary." He believed seeing firsthand might lead judges to impose shorter sentences in non-extreme cases.
A proposed new rule would require judges who have sentencing or detaining responsibilities in New York's unified court system to spend a day visiting correctional facilities every year. The initiative, backed by Judge Daniel Conviser and law professor Michael Mushlin, aims to bring transparency to a part of the justice system that is largely out of sight.
Conviser stated that judges frequently face difficulty with sentencing as it involves considerable discretion. He thinks visiting prisons and meeting with incarcerated people helps them grasp what they are actually doing. The new rule would explicitly require judges to see intake areas, solitary confinement units, food preparation areas, education quarters, exercise spaces, and visitation rooms. It also mandates that visits be spread across facilities throughout the state and include women's facilities.
The visits aren't supposed to be superficial or just a show. They are meant to be a chance for judges to have face-to-face conversations with prisoners and learn about their experiences firsthand. A group of judges, including Judge Dineen Riviezzo, took part in such a trip to Sing Sing maximum-security prison. Riviezzo stated that talking to the men there about their hopes, dreams, and remorse was valuable and helped her better comprehend the harsh realities of imprisonment.
Supporters of the new rule believe it could serve as an example for other states. A law professor associated with Pace University said he never experienced visits to prisons as profound as those taken by judges during this committee's trial runs. He stated that conversations between judges and prisoners were enlightening, allowing them to see their full selves rather than just being aware of the aspects they had seen when sentencing people to prison.
However, not all have welcomed the new proposal. Some judges think visits aren't necessary or should be voluntary. Conviser acknowledged both viewpoints: in some cases, distance might be beneficial for rational decision-making, yet it is also essential to be somewhat connected with the issue at hand.
Martin Horn, a former commissioner of New York City's Department of Correction, expressed support for the new rule, stating that bringing prisons and their conditions into focus would be "welcome and necessary." He believed seeing firsthand might lead judges to impose shorter sentences in non-extreme cases.
, it's all about accountability and being connected to what you're making decisions on 
. Judges need to see the reality of the system they're a part of, not just read about it or make assumptions 
. Visiting correctional facilities can help them understand the human side of sentencing and maybe even lead to more fair outcomes for everyone involved 
. It's also good that the visits aren't just about showing up, but actually engaging with prisoners in meaningful conversations 
. I'm curious to see how this plays out and if it leads to any changes in the way judges approach sentencing 
.
I've heard of some judges doing these visits and saying it was eye-opening, but I'm not sure how common that is.
It's always good to have some transparency in the system, but I don't want it to feel like a bunch of window dressing.
Just gotta hope it's not just some token gesture and actually leads to some real changes in the system. 
its already hard enough on people but add a daily visit from the judge who sentenced them to? that just gonna be more stress and trauma... i dont think its about getting a better understanding of sentencing, its about judging people for a living making life hard 4 everyone... and now they wanna do it voluntarily 
! Judges need to get their hands dirty and see what they're actually sentencing people to. This proposed rule is about time. They should have to put themselves in the shoes of those incarcerated, not just read about it or watch a video. It's all too easy for them to be detached and make harsh decisions without really understanding the human side of things. This could be a game-changer and I'm all for it 
I think this is super important! It's about time we start making judges see the real impact of their decisions on people's lives, especially when it comes to sentencing. 
. at least this way, they gotta get up close and personal with reality 
. and you know what? i think it could really help 'em see that prison ain't just about lockin' people up, it's about human beings behind bars 
. so yeah, i'm all for it 
I feel like judges should totally get to see what's going on behind those prison walls before making life-altering decisions for ppl they've never met 
it makes total sense that they'd want to put themselves in shoes of the ones they're sentencing, it's not just about numbers and stats but about real people's lives 
spending a day visiting correctional facilities would def give 'em some much-needed perspective 
- like, our judges should really get a glimpse of what we're sending ppl to for years 
. i mean, who hasn't had friends or family members deal with the system and wondered why they got such harsh sentences? 
this new rule could be like, super eye-opening for judges and help 'em make more informed decisions 
...
they're already making decisions that affect people's lives, what's to stop them from just going through the motions with their "visits" anyway? 
. This new rule would be a game-changer in helping them see the humanity behind those stats and numbers... it's all too easy to forget that there are real people with hopes, dreams, and fears trapped inside those walls 