Jennifer S. Wilkov Speaks to the Black Hispanic Asian Puerto Rican Caucus at the NY State Capitol

NEW YORK - Jan. 26, 2016 - PRLog -- Jennifer S. Wilkov, a victim of the New York State criminal justice system’s and Ameriprise Financial’s erroneous campaigns as well as a board member of the It Could Happen to You organization, is in Albany today to address and meet with the 63 New York State Senators in the Black, Hispanic, Asian and Puerto Rican Caucus to advocate for the bill to establish a Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct in New York State. The meeting will take place this morning at the New York State Capitol located at State Street and Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12224. When the bill for the Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct passes, New York State will be the first state in the nation to establish such an oversight commission for state prosecutors and have an answer to the burning question, “Who is prosecuting the prosecutors?” which has been troubling citizens nationwide.

Introduced by Syracuse State Senator John DeFrancisco  (S24) and Brooklyn Assemblyman Nick Perry (A 1131) along with co-sponsors from across the state, including strong support from Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, originator of the bill in the Assembly, State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, a prominent long-time supporter of criminal justice reform in New York State, and many others, the State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct will establish accountability and uniform best practices for the most powerful players in the criminal justice system.

Other licensed professionals in a variety of industries, including most elected officials -- judges and the legislators themselves -- as well as police, firefighters, Catholic bishops, athletic team owners and their coaches and players, teachers, social workers, doctors and nurses, airline pilots, train conductors, bus drivers, accountants, insurance agents, real estate agents, bankers, investment advisors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, engineers, chefs, and hairdressers, are subject to the enforcement of best practices and accountability. The only professionals and elected officials seemingly not subject to the enforcement of best practices and accountability are District Attorneys and Assistant District Attorneys.

Bill Bastuk, the founder of It Could Happen to You, says, “The proposed Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct is modeled after the successful forty-year New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The sad news is that New York State is second in the nation in wrongful convictions, only to Texas. The good news is that more and more state legislators want to take action to make New York a leader in justice reform.”

Ms. Wilkov found herself at the center of a legal storm where she was incarcerated in Rikers Island for a crime the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ruled she did not commit three years after she had been railroaded into pleading guilty by the Assistant District Attorney and the judge in her case, who both engaged in questionable practices which caused the criminal justice system to fail to uphold her rights to fair prosecutorial practices and proper representation.

She has previously addressed this controversial case in her award-winning feature article that appeared in the April 2009 issue of Marie Claire and during her March 2009 interview on CNBC Squawk Box. She has also spoken publicly about it during her TEDx Talk at the TEDxBroadStreetNY event held in New York City, at the It Could Happen to You 2015 Summit, and in other venues upon request.

Endorsements for the bill to establish the State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct include the Huffington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Civil Liberties Union, New York Catholic Conference, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, New York Trial Lawyers Association, New York State Defenders Association, Legal Aid Society of New York, Brooklyn Defenders Association, New York State United Teachers, the Greater Genesee Valley Rochester AFL-CIO, and more.

“I’m delighted to have the unique opportunity to stand up and put forth my support to establish the Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct in New York State,” says Jennifer S. Wilkov. “Going to jail as an innocent man or woman is a fear held by many across the United States, especially licensed professionals like I was in a regulated industry that requires proper supervision by licensed supervisors. Inadequate and inappropriate prosecutorial conduct is unnecessarily hurting our innocent citizens and professionals. The time is now to reform the criminal justice system and establish a supervisory authority to oversee the prosecutors who are charged with seeking fair and ethical prosecutions of those who are truly guilty.”

“New York State should be the national trailblazer in criminal justice reform. A critical element in the transformation of our state’s justice system is the enactment of rules to enforce best prosecutorial practices and provide accountability for this group of elected officials and professionals,” says Bill Bastuk, Chair of It Could Happen to You Inc. “We're grateful to have Jennifer S. Wilkov, a former successful Certified Financial Planner, join us to bring her unique story to the discussion today with the Governor’s counsel as well as legislators in the New York State Senate and Assembly. She clearly defines how vulnerable successful business people are to false accusations involving white collar crimes.”

Jennifer S. Wilkov is the founder of Speak Up World, LLC, and is producing the inaugural Speak Up Women Conference at the United Nations on March 5, 2016, an event designed to support women with the understanding of the importance and impact speaking up has in our personal, professional and philanthropic lives.

For more information about the Speak Up Women Conference, please visit www.SpeakUpWomen.com.

About Jennifer S. Wilkov

Jennifer S. Wilkov’s passion for communication has made her a #1 international best-selling award-winning author, a keynote speaker, an award-winning freelance writer, a successful book and business consultant, a #1 radio show host and executive producer on WomensRadio, and an entrepreneurial mentor. In two decades of strategic planning and business development in Corporate America, Wilkov perfected skills in fostering teamwork, communication, collaboration and success at every level of an organization and business.

As a keynote speaker, Jennifer fans the flames of the Human Spirit in each audience member and empowers them with her inspiring message: “You have the right to remain fabulous!” She is an active board member of It Could Happen to You, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the falsely accused.

For more information, go to http://www.JenniferSWilkov.com and http://www.SpeakUpWomen.com

For interviews with Ms. Wilkov, please contact info@jenniferswilkov.com or (917) 727-8434.

For more information about It Could Happen to You Inc., please refer to http://www.itcouldhappen2you.org