NYSDA's Client Advisory Board Member King to Receive Life Time Achievement Award

ALBANY, NY (11/27/2012)(readMedia)-- Darryl King, a member of the New York State Defenders Association's Client Advisory Board, will receive the Eddie Ellis Life Time Achievement Award this week. Created by Citizens Against Recidivism, Inc. the award honors the accomplishments of people who were formerly incarcerated.

King, wrongfully incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, has a long history of striving to reform unfair practices in the criminal justice system and a proud record of personal growth. His challenge to a Parole Board panel's refusal to release him, based solely on the nature of the crime for which he was convicted, led to a court decision that has been cited countless times by prisoners who were similarly unfairly denied parole. The New York State Defenders Association filed an amicus brief in King's case, and continues to support parole reform such as the Safe And Fair Evaluation (SAFE) Parole Act.

King's many achievements in prison included overcoming a learning disability to earn a Bachelor's degree in sociology; serving as an inmate liaison and on grievance committees; actively participating in chapters of a number of civic and religious organizations; and taking a leadership role in Community Awareness Programs devoted to helping keep young people from getting into trouble as well as in prison programs for physically challenged people and veterans. King himself suffered a non-combat injury while in military service during the Vietnam era.

Upon his release from prison, he continued to push for fair treatment of people involved in the criminal justice system, including those who are denied judicial recognition of their innocence. He was Director of the Developing Justice Program of the Fifth Avenue Committee in New York City for several years, and has been a member of NYSDA's Client Advisory Board since February of 2000.

Just a few of many examples of King's active work for criminal justice reform include his participation in workshops at conferences like the Unified Court System's New York State Indigent Defense Summit in 2001. He has asked questions from the dais in hearings on public defense services sponsored by NYSDA, The League of Women Voters of New York State, and has testified at other hearings such as that held in 2005 before the New York State Commission on the Future of Indigent Defense Services. King has been part of numerous other activities on behalf of NYSDA's Client Advisory Board.

The New York State Defenders Association is a not-for-profit, membership organization that has provided support to New York's public defense community since 1967. Its mission is to improve the quality and scope of publicly supported legal representation to low income people.

The Citizens Against Recidivism black-tie awards event where King will be honored is to be held at the Alhambra Ballroom, 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd, NY, NY on November 30, 2012 between 6:00 - 9:00 PM. http://citizensinc.org/information-about-the-2012-citizens-awards.html