The Ulster County Justice and Reform Commission Seeks Public Input

Posted June 30, 2020

The commission will be seeking input from residents through a public forum and through digital platforms and in-person locations

KINGSTON, N.Y. - Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan today during his live briefing shared updates regarding the Ulster County Justice and Reform Commission. The commission held its first meeting yesterday to begin the discussion on issues including ending mass incarceration, police oversight and accountability, addressing systemic racial bias, and healing divisions between law enforcement and the communities they serve, to ensure justice for all residents. The commission is seeking input from the public and will be holding a public forum on July 22nd at 6:00 p.m. through Zoom. 

Residents can also submit feedback through emailing jrcommission[at]co.ulster.ny[dot]us, filling out the online form linked here, or by visiting the following in-person locations to share or drop off concerns, thoughts, and questions: 

  • Ellenville (Trudy Resnick Farber Building)
  • Kingston (Restorative Justice Center)
  • New Paltz (New Paltz Village Hall)

“In the coming weeks and months, The Ulster County Justice and Reform Commission will actively listen to the community to propose meaningful changes needed to our criminal justice system,” County Executive Ryan said. “Every resident should feel represented in this process and I encourage residents to join the public meeting on July 22nd or to leave their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions online or in-person as we work to ensure equal justice for all our residents.”

Last week, County Executive Ryan signed an Executive Order establishing a commission to reform policing practices and promote criminal justice in Ulster County. The mission of the group will be to lay out a specific set of policy and legislative changes in Ulster County that will ensure justice for every resident and drive needed reforms in the criminal justice system. The commission will meet regularly over the coming weeks and months, and include a series of public forums to ensure all voices are heard in a transparent fashion. The group will consist of relevant stakeholders including religious leaders, elected officials, law enforcement, community group leaders, and others. 

The Ulster County Justice and Reform Commission is made up of the following members:

County Attorney Clint Johnson - Chair 

President of the Ulster County Police Chiefs Association Kyle Berardi

President of the Ellenville Chapter of the NAACP Maude Bruce 

Kingston City School Board and Pastor of Pointe of Praise Church Rev. James Childs

District Attorney Dave Clegg

Sheriff Juan Figueroa

President of the Ulster County Association of Supervisors and Mayors Shannon Harris

Ulster County Legislator Heidi Haynes 

First Assistant County Attorney Lauren Sheeley

Youth Member Jackson Speller

Executive Director of the Peaceful Guardians Project Lester Strong

Ulster County Legislator Eve Walter 

Human Rights Commissioner Tyrone Wilson

Kingston Alderwoman Rita Worthington

Ellenville Village Trustee Ray Younger

Citizen Action Representative 

Esopus Town Supervisor Shannon Harris