Mr. Taylor has received an offer of job training and placement upon his release with the nonprofit organization Families and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted
NEW YORK – October 31, 2025 – Today, the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo Law (PCLJ) announced that Ernest Taylor has returned home to his family after serving nearly 22 years in prison. Mr. Taylor’s release follows a successful resentencing motion filed and litigated by the Perlmutter Center earlier this year, which corrected errors in his original sentence and recognized his rehabilitation and readiness to return home.
Mr. Taylor is 69 years old and was originally sentenced to a term of 25 years to life after an attempted robbery of $8.00. During his 2003 sentencing, the court mistakenly believed that Mr. Taylor had a prior homicide conviction, a factual error that was improperly considered in determining his sentence. The sentence also failed to account for his longstanding struggles with addiction and the absence of treatment options available at the time. The Perlmutter Center petitioned for Mr. Taylor’s resentencing, arguing that his trial attorney was ineffective for failing to present mitigating evidence related to his addiction and personal history. The court agreed, resentencing Mr. Taylor to a determinate term that made him eligible for immediate parole consideration.
“Ernest Taylor was sentenced under outdated laws that no longer reflect our understanding of addiction or justice,” said Derrick Hamilton, Deputy Director of the Perlmutter Center. “Today, people with substance use disorders are diverted to treatment courts instead of condemned to decades in prison. Ernest’s release shows how revisiting outdated sentences can bring fairness and dignity back into the system.”
Cardozo clinic students engaged in strategic conversations with PCLJ attorneys and gained insight into the resentencing process. They also had the opportunity to learn about the importance of securing justice for Mr. Taylor and his family, and how it can apply in future cases.
New York State now recognizes drug addiction as a mitigating circumstance, which often leads to alternatives to harsh prison sentences. If these laws had been in place at the time of his arrest, it’s possible Ernest would have received the help he so desperately needed much earlier in his life.
“Cases like Ernest’s remind us that justice requires more than punishment — it requires reflection,” said his attorney Emily Lane ‘23. “Our resentencing work is about correcting those injustices and ensuring that people who have changed are given the opportunity to come home.”
Mr. Taylor will celebrate his 70th birthday in March 2026. Mr. Taylor’s case underscores the urgent need for sentencing review and parole reform in New York State. According to the Correctional Association of New York, nearly 15% of people incarcerated by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision are 55 or older, and 4% are 65 or older — a legacy of extreme sentencing practices that have fueled mass incarceration. The Perlmutter Center calls for the passage of the Elder Parole Act (S454) and related legislation that allows courts to review sentences in the interest of justice (S3286 and S158/A1283). This legislation would provide aging and long-incarcerated individuals with a chance for review and release based on who they are today — not just the sentence they received decades ago. Like Mr. Taylor, there are many incarcerated individuals who would greatly benefit from this change.
Mr. Taylor is a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He has remained a consistent and loving presence in his family’s life despite the challenges of incarceration. They are very much looking forward to reconnecting as a family. Upon his release, Ernest will join his wife Katheryn in Queens where he hopes to “counsel young men and help them make better decisions” and has received an offer of job training and placement from the nonprofit Families and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted.
Derrick Hamilton, Karena Rahall, and Emily Lane of the Perlmutter Center worked on the Ernest Taylor case.
ABOUT THE PERLMUTTER CENTER FOR LEGAL JUSTICE AT CARDOZO LAW
The Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice trains students and lawyers in the proper use of scientific evidence, focusing on the misuse of forensic science that potentially contributes to wrongful convictions. In addition, the Center seeks justice for those individuals incarcerated with excessive sentences through parole work and clemency requests. The Perlmutter Center was established through a $15-million philanthropic donation from the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation.
ABOUT CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW
Cardozo School of Law is renowned for its rigorous academics, innovative programs, and commitment to social justice. With a commitment to excellence, our distinguished faculty and dynamic curriculum prepare students for successful careers in a diverse range of legal fields. Cardozo is known for outstanding programs in business and innovation, intellectual property, mediation and dispute resolution, public interest, criminal justice, and clinical education. Our extensive clinical and field training placements are among the most robust in the nation, leveraging our New York City connections for hands-on opportunities.
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