Court Decision: SORA Downward Departure Granted From Level 3 to Level 2

Supreme Court, Kings County: People v. [redacted]

SORA Downward Departure Granted From Level 3 to Level 2

Our client was incarcerated for 32 years for a murder and was recently granted parole. The SORA hearing was for a prior rape conviction that he committed when he was 19. Now 60 years old, he had made extraordinary strides in his life while he was incarcerated, obtained letters in support from correction officers, was a model inmate for decades, and had a release plan for housing, counseling, and employment assistance. The Board and People sought a Level 3. The court granted our request for a downward departure to Level 2, which was especially important because he would not be subject to SARA and could be released.

William G. Kastin represented our client