Paul Cortez

Written by Paul’s Mother Ivette
Paul Cortez was born in the Bronx, NY. He attended the Buckley School, Poly Prep Country Day, and Boston University. When he graduated in 2003, he returned to NY to pursue a theater arts and music career. Unfortunately, after his former girlfriend was murdered, he was accused by the original suspect, and eventually arrested for the crime. Since the beginning of this tragedy, Paul not only affirmed his innocence, but complied with the Police investigation. Nevertheless, through many crooked procedural maneuvers by the District Attorney and investigators, Paul was made to look guilty. He was convicted in 2005 for Second Degree Murder and is currently serving 25 years to Life. In 2016, video footage was discovered which proves Paul's innocence. In it, the original suspect is shown leaving the crime scene about 13 minutes after the commission of the crime. Paul still maintains his innocence and is seeking relief in the Federal Courts, as well as through Executive Clemency in the interest of justice.

Since his incarceration, Paul has vowed to use his time to help transform the prison environment from a place of violence and ignorance to a place of progress and learning. Paul is a graduate of the prestigious Exodus Transitional Services program, as well as a qualified facilitator for the Alternative to Violence Project (AVP). He is a member of and facilitator for the PACT organization (Project for A Calculated Transition) whose sponsor is Yale College. He is currently the Catholic Clerk at Green Haven Correctional. Paul was a featured singer and musician for Green Haven's St. Paul's Chapel 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2017, where Timothy Cardinal Dolan presided over the mass . Paul has also won the Correction's Accountability Project's (CAP) Gold Place award for their 2018 art contest which was featured in an article by Caleb Gayle in the Guardian. He is author of God's Hand Reaches Down: Evangelism in the American Maximum Security Prison System. His latest work is an article published by The Prison Action Network. Lastly, his prison reform advocacy work is shown in the bills he has sponsored throughout the years. Sign the petition for Paul’s release.