ALBANY, NY (WENY)-- SEVERAL BILLS IN ALBANY ARE BATTLING IT OUT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE STATE’S PAROLE BOARD SYSTEM.  

TWO BILLS SPONSORED BY DEMOCRATS WOULD LOOSEN PAROLE RESTRICTIONS BY PROVIDING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT AN INDIVIDUAL'S REHABILITATION IN THEIR parole review. THEY WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOR PAROLE RELEASE CONSIDERATION FOR elder PRISONERS– WHO HAVE SERVED AT LEAST 15 YEARS OF A SENTENCE.  
 
FOR ADVOCATE TEANA TAYLOR, THESE BILLS WOULD HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON HER FATHER, WHO IS CURRENTLY INCARCERATED.  
 
“He would be considered for who he is today. The judge gave him a sentence for the opportunity to be viewed after twenty-two years of incarceration to see if he’s truly been accountable for the harm that he has committed and has truly changed his life and I believe my father has done that,” she said. 
 
WHILE DEMOCRATS PUSH FOR THESE BILLS, REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING FOR MORE RESTRICTIONS.
 
THEY WANT TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR STATE LAWMAKERS TO remove PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS AND MAKE life without parole MANDATORY FOR INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF KILLING A POLICE OFFICER — ARGUING THE DEMOCRATS BILLS WOULD “CODDLE CRIMINALS.” 
 
“There’s a re-centering on the criminal versus the citizen, the law-abiding individual, and even more specifically on those who we ask to protect us,” said Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-62nd Senate District).
 
SOME DEMOCRATS ARGUE REPUBLICANS DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING NEW YORKERS SAFE.  
 
“Republicans have always believed that locking people and throwing away the key forever is the way to make our community safe when actually giving people a chance to reconnect with their communities and strengthen to keep them whole is the best way to keep them safe,” said Sen. Jabari Brisport (D-25th Senate District).

THESE BILLS RIGHT NOW ARE STILL MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH COMMITTEEs.