Derrick Brown

Derrick Brown, incarcerated for 31 years since age 17, is serving a 35-years-to-life sentence. Although he has been severely punished and has all the markers of rehabilitation, he will not be eligible for parole for four more years when he is 53 years old. To mitigate over-incarceration, we are asking Governor Hochul to use her power for good and allow Derrick to appear before the Parole Board now rather than 4 years from now.

When asked about his first 17 years of life before incarceration, Derrick stated, “I did not feel loved in my home but rather in the streets.” These words uttered by a man who has spent two-thirds of his time on earth incarcerated carry a heavy weight. The entirety of Derrick’s formative years was marred with financial and housing instability, neglect, and both physical and mental abuse, which affected many of his life choices and outcomes. As a result, Derrick’s education slipped through the cracks, resulting in him dropping out of school in the 9th grade with only a 2nd-grade reading level. Later, after being kicked out of the overcrowded apartment his family was doubled up in, he found himself homeless at the age of 16. Derrick found shelter with a man who led him into a series of robberies using a gun Derrick provided.

Ultimately, this series of events resulted in tragedy. From December 27, 1992 - January 3, 1993, Derrick and his older co-defendant committed three armed robberies over the course of 4 days during which the codefendant killed two people and injured three others. Although Derrick was not armed, his codefendant used a gun Derrick had taken from his father’s home. Derrick was arrested in January 1993 and immediately confessed to his role in the crimes that resulted in two senseless deaths. Despite not directly killing anyone, Derrick's involvement in the crimes resulted in him being charged with murder, to which he immediately pled guilty. When asked about his role in these tragic events, Derrick stated, “Though I had not pulled the trigger in any of the incidents, I am nevertheless, equally to blame because I provided the weapon used.”

In reflecting on his crimes, Derrick states: “My life purpose now is to make atonement for what I have done by becoming a productive member of humanity.” Despite entering prison as an adolescent with a 2nd-grade literacy level, Derrick earned a high school diploma and sought to grow and acquire valuable skills through numerous self-development programs. He earned certifications in occupational training programs such as Carpentry, Metalwork, Legal Research, and Law Library Management. His hard work and dedication have earned him recognitions as a capable employee in the different occupational departments he has worked in. Derrick successfully completed almost all programming available to him, including a 16-week Substance Abuse Program, a 10-week Violent Behavior Awareness Workshop, and a 6-week Victim Impact Program. Along with participating in religious activities and various health seminars, he volunteers to aid in planning community programs with organizations such as the NAACP. Derrick has successfully completed all available personal development programs at Eastern Correctional Facility and hopes to enter a medium-security prison where he can access and complete more programming and rehabilitative opportunities. Derrick was also recently accepted into the Bard Prison Initiative, where he will take a full course load that culminates in a degree from Bard College. The initiative will also support Derrick throughout his enrollment and beyond to identify ways that this degree can carry him forward into long-term plans.

Despite the challenges, Derrick has mended his relationship with his father, mother and siblings. Now on the brink of turning 50 and having served over three decades in prison—from the later years of adolescence to well beyond middle age—Mr. Brown is asking Governor Hochul to allow him to go before the Parole Board now rather than 4 years from now. Please support Derrick Brown and ask Governor Hochul to grant his request.