| Jerry Rosenberg | |
|---|---|
mugshot |
|
| Born | May 23, 1937 |
| Died | June 1, 2009 (aged 72) Alden, New York |
| Cause | Natural causes |
| Charge(s) | Murder |
| Penalty | Death (later reduced to life in prison) |
| Status | Deceased |
Jerome "Jerry" Rosenberg (May 23, 1937 – June 1, 2009) was a jailhouse lawyer. He was incarcerated for 46 years, longer than any other prisoner in New York State history. Rosenberg was sentenced to death for his involvement in a double homicide of two New York City police officers. His sentence was commuted to life in prison to be consistent with laws reducing the use of capital punishment in New York. Rosenberg went on to become the first New York State inmate to earn a law degree and in turn gave legal advice to several inmates, including the leaders of the Attica Prison riot. A book was written about Rosenberg and his time in prison which was adapted into a made-for-TV movie.
Contents |
In 1962 Rosenberg took part in the robbery of Boro Park Tobacco Company in Brooklyn. The robbery was unsuccessful and resulted in the death of two police officers.[1] The previous killing of two New York City police officers had occurred more than three decades earlier. With 1,000 police officers assigned to the double homicide, Rosenberg would eventually turn himself in. Upon conviction of first-degree murder Rosenberg was to be executed, along with his accomplice in the 1962 shooting.[2] Throughout his sentence Rosenberg claimed to have not been guilty of murder.[2]
In 1964 Rosenberg was to be executed using the electric chair. Shortly before it was to take place[1] he was granted a stay of execution by Governor Nelson Rockefeller based on new laws of New York State that reduced the use of capital punishment.[2] Four years after Rosenberg's incarceration he earned a law degree from the Blackstone School of Law.[2] Prior to Rosenberg no inmate in the state of New York had ever earned a law degree.[1] During the 1971 Attica Prison riot Rosenberg provided legal advice to those leading the riot. After its resolution, Rosenberg was transferred to Sing Sing Correctional Facility.[2] Rosenberg frequently assisted other prisoners with legal issues as a jailhouse lawyer, and estimated he was involved in over 200 lawsuits.[1][2] Rosenberg was transferred to Wende Correctional Facility in 1991, serving, among other positions within the prison, as paralegal assistant for three years in the law library.[2] Rosenberg was transferred to prison hospital in 2000. He died of natural causes in June 2009 at the age of 72, having served 46 years in state prisons, the longest of any inmate in New York State penal history.[1][2]
Rosenberg was the subject of a 1982 biography by Stephen Bello called Doing Life: The Extraordinary Saga of America’s Greatest Jailhouse Lawyer,[2] in 1986 the book was adapted for a NBC made-for-TV movie called Doing Life (1986 film) with Tony Danza in the role of Rosenberg.[3]