Activists push reforms as lawmakers discuss public safety

ALBANY — Advocates pushed for broad criminal justice reforms at the Capitol on Tuesday as the Senate and Assembly held a joint budget hearing on public protection.With Democrats controlling both houses of the Legislature, criminal justice reformers are optimistic that the legislative session underway will bring sweeping change to the state's criminal justice system.A group of lawmakers and activists pushing for parole reform held a protest on the Million Dollar Staircase at the Capitol, pu