Albany Law School and State Bar Association Celebrate New York's Public Policy Innovations in Policy Journal

ALBANY, NY (04/30/2015)(readMedia)-- The Government Law Center of Albany Law School and the New York State Bar Association have jointly released the latest issue of Government, Law and Policy Journal, which showcases New York's long history of innovative public policies.

The authors include a "who's who" of current and former policy makers: William Bratton, New York City police commissioner; Jonathan E. Gradess, executive director of the New York State Defenders Association; Martin F. Horn, executive director of the New York State Sentencing Commission; New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman; former State Senator John R. Dunne; former Assemblyman Dan Feldman; and Peter J. Kiernan, former counsel to Governor David Paterson.

Their articles focus on New York's innovations in evidence-based crime prevention, the demise of the death penalty, access to justice through pro bono legal services, successful alternatives to incarceration, reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, protection of the environment and free speech, and political accountability in managing financially distressed municipalities.

Other articles examine successful reentry from prison to the community, great moments in New York pro bono history and reform of public authorities. The Winter 2014 issue, entitled "New York: A Laboratory for Innovative Public Policy,"is available to the public at no charge. It can be downloaded at http://www.nysba.org/glpwinter14/.

"New York develops and road tests ideas for public policy. If Silicon Valley is the home to the wafer, we are the home of the social petri dish. We nourish new policies, refine and export in ways both pragmatic and dramatic," said Scott Fein, guest editor of the issue and a partner at Whiteman Osterman and Hanna in Albany.

"We are proud to partner with the New York State Bar Association in producing the Government, Law and Policy Journal, particularly this issue celebrating New York's efforts to serve us all better," said Associate Professor Ray Brescia, director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School.

"The Journal reminds us that public policy issues do not come with easy solutions. Over its history, New York has shown a willingness to take a fresh approach to seemingly intractable problems, often crafting solutions that inspire other jurisdictions," said Glenn Lau-Kee, president of the New York State Bar Association.

The Journal's Board of Editors are J. Stephen Casscles, Lisa F. Grumet, James F. Horan, and Barbara Smith, all members of the State Bar Association. Albany Law School's editorial board includes Rose Mary K. Bailly, editor-in-chief; Professor Ray Brescia; and Professor Vincent M. Bonventre, founding editor-in-chief. Lindsay Danello is student executive editor; student senior editors are Sarah Coligan, Alexander Cooper, Sarah Engster, Jacqueline Goralzyck, Kerri Tily, and Kimberly Waldin, all members of the Albany Law School Class of 2015.

Previous issues of the Government, Law and Policy Journal have focused on firearms, public safety and the law, civil rights and disabilities and renewable energy. An archive of all authors and topics in the past issues is available at http://www.nysba.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=34366.

The Government Law Center of Albany Law School was established in 1978 to promote interdisciplinary study and research in government and the problems facing government; to introduce law students to methods of policy analysis and to public service; and to serve as a resource to all levels of government in the resolution of specific problems. The New York State Bar Association, with 74,000 members, is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in 1876.

Media contacts:

Lise Bang-Jensen, NYSBA, 518-487-5530, lbang-jensen@nysba.org

David Singer, Albany Law School, 518-445-3211, dsing@albanylaw.edu

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