Jerry Rosenberg
Encyclopedia
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
.
. The robbery was unsuccessful and resulted in the death of two police officers. The previous killing of two New York City police officers
had occurred more than three decade
s 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. Throughout his sentence Rosenberg claimed to have not been guilty of murder.
. Shortly before it was to take place 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. Four years after Rosenberg's incarceration he earned a law degree
from the Blackstone School of Law
. Prior to Rosenberg no inmate in the state of New York had ever earned a law degree. 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
. Rosenberg frequently assisted other prisoners with legal issues as a jailhouse lawyer, and estimated he was involved in over 200 lawsuit
s. 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. 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.
made-for-TV movie
called Doing Life (1986 film) with Tony Danza
in the role of Rosenberg.
Jailhouse lawyer
Jailhouse lawyer is a colloquial term in North American English to refer to an inmate in a jail or other prison who, though usually never having practiced law nor having any formal legal training, informally assists other inmates in legal matters relating to their sentence or to their conditions...
. He was incarcerated for 46 years, longer than any other prisoner in New York State
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
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
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
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
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
.
Robbery and murder
In 1962 Rosenberg took part in the robbery of Boro Park Tobacco Company in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. The robbery was unsuccessful and resulted in the death of two police officers. The previous killing of two New York City police officers
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
had occurred more than three decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
s earlier. With 1,000 police officers assigned to the double homicide, Rosenberg would eventually turn himself in. Upon conviction of first-degree murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
Rosenberg was to be executed, along with his accomplice in the 1962 shooting. Throughout his sentence Rosenberg claimed to have not been guilty of murder.
Time in prison
In 1964 Rosenberg was to be executed using the electric chairElectric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
. Shortly before it was to take place he was granted a stay of execution
Stay of execution
A stay of execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or other court order. The word "execution" does not necessarily mean the death penalty; it refers to the imposition of whatever judgment is being stayed....
by Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
based on new laws of New York State that reduced the use of capital punishment. Four years after Rosenberg's incarceration he earned a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the Blackstone School of Law
Blackstone Career Institute
The Blackstone Career Institute, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and founded in 1890, offers distance education programs and home study programs, specializing in courses students can use to study at home and/or take online to advance their careers...
. Prior to Rosenberg no inmate in the state of New York had ever earned a law degree. 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
Sing Sing
Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in the town of Ossining, New York...
. Rosenberg frequently assisted other prisoners with legal issues as a jailhouse lawyer, and estimated he was involved in over 200 lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
s. Rosenberg was transferred to Wende Correctional Facility
Wende Correctional Facility
Wende Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison located in Town of Alden in Erie County, New York. The prison is named for this region of Alden...
in 1991, serving, among other positions within the prison, as paralegal
Paralegal
Paralegal is used in most jurisdictions to describe a paraprofessional who assists qualified lawyers in their legal work. This is true in the United States and many other countries. However, in Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada, giving paralegals an...
assistant for three years in the law library. 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.
In media
Rosenberg was the subject of a 1982 biography by Stephen Bello called Doing Life: The Extraordinary Saga of America’s Greatest Jailhouse Lawyer, in 1986 the book was adapted for a NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
made-for-TV movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
called Doing Life (1986 film) with Tony Danza
Tony Danza
Tony Danza is an American actor best known for starring on the TV series Taxi and Who's the Boss?, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards...
in the role of Rosenberg.
External links
- Jerry Rosenberg - Daily Telegraph obituary