Ortloff sentencing delayed until August 11th 2009

Former NYS Parole Board Commissioner Chris Ortloff's sentencing has been delayed and is now scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on August 11th at the federal courthouse in Albany. In the meantime, the former assemblyman's bail will be revoked and he will begin serving time pending his sentencing. Ortloff has been free on conditions and a $100,000 bond since late December last year, when he pleaded guilty to a single count of online enticement of a minor.

See Jail time for Ortloff to begin Thursday: sentencing delayed from this week until August (Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 22 2009) for the full story.

From the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, quoting Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Spina:

"The minimum sentence for Ortloff's charges is 10 years' imprisonment with a maximum of life, plus a $250,000 fine. Spina said federal prisoners are "typically eligible for 50 days of good time a year if they comply with all the programs."

Additionally, Spina said, they are sometimes released to a halfway house four months before the end of their sentence to help their reintegration into the community. Following this, if Ortloff is sentenced to the 10-year minimum, he would have to serve more than eight years before he could be released."

The authors of the article note that Chris Ortloff was paid $101,600 a year on the Parole Board and will continue to be paid $53,136 a year for the rest of his life, even in prison. This pension is guaranteed by New York State's Constitution.

See also:
Ortloff sentencing delayed to August (Press Republican, April 21 2009)
Ortloff starts sentence for trying to seduce children (Albany Times Union, April 23 2009)
Ortloff is in custody to await sentencing later this year (Times Union Capitol Confidential Blog, April 23 2009)

Graziano v. Pataki update: April 1st 2009

Update on Graziano v. Pataki, from the Prison Action Network:

"GRAZIANO VS PATAKI: The parties are still waiting for a decision on the motion to compel the Pataki deposition."

Building Bridges - April 2009 edition

The April 2009 edition of Building Bridges has just been issued by the Prison Action Network. Visit their blog to read all the latest news and updates. Subjects covered this month include:

Activities to educate, motivate, and mobilize
Budget speech by Commissioner Brian Fischer
Coalition for Fair Criminal Justice Policies - NYC
ICARE Reports
Legislation
Lifers and Longtermers Clearinghouse
Parole news
Prison health care report
Prison libraries research project
Prison media
Prisoners of the Census Reentry unit opens
Reentry speech by Commissioner Fischer
SHU Bill commentary by Sol Wachtler
Transportation to prisons

The Prison Action Network note that George B. Alexander, former NYS Chair of Parole, will be the special guest at the meeting of the Coalition For Fair Criminal Justice Policies - NYC Chapter on Saturday April 25, 10:30am-1pm. He will discuss his situation and his desire to return to his former position as Chair of Parole now that charges against him have been dismissed.

The meeting will be held at Fortune Society’s Offices, 29-76 Northern Blvd. (Rte 25A) between 40th Ave and 41st Ave in Long Island City.