By Dan Murphy
Several Yonkers elected officials, including Mayor Mike Spano, and members of law enforcement, including Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller, have asked for changes to the criminal justice reforms and bail reforms laws in New York State. Specifically, they are asking for modifications to bail reform and raise the age legislation.
Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said, “in Yonkers, bail reform is affecting property crimes (car breaks ins and shoplifting). Raise the age legislation is impacting our violent crime.”
Mueller said that state legislators worked last summer to make some changes to the criminal justice reform set of laws recently passed, but that a few, additional changes are still needed. “There is a small subset of repeat offenders that commit most of the crimes. We can say that if we made some minor changes to bail reform it would help with property crime. Just give us the tools to deal with that small group.
Mueller said that there is more gun violence from young teenagers, 15, 16 and 17 years old, that are affected by Raise the Age legislation., Many of these cases go to Family Court and the records are sealed. That means the next time they come before a judge, the judge will not know about their prior crimes because their records are sealed. We are asking that the judge be allowed to see the prior criminal history of anyone before the court. Don’t seal the records for the public, but for the judge.We respect the reforms but we see a few areas that need improvement. We hope that they will sit down and listen to our concerns, whcih are based upon the crime data. We have the information, please let use talk to you about it,” said Mueller.
Keith Olson, the President of the Yonkers PBA, and President of the Affiliated Police Associatons of Westchester said, “The huge uptick in violent crime seen in most of New York and throughout the nation is a very real and extremely complicated problem. There are many factors to be considered when finding a real solution to solving this dilemma. Certainly, the proliferation of guns and the pandemic are among those factors. Other factors include the recently instituted criminal justice reforms including bail reform, raise the age and changes to the discovery laws. But let’s be clear. This should not be portrayed as a partisan problem.
“In a recent interview with NYCD-16 Indivisible, NY Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins stated over and over again that any implication that criminal justice, police and bail reform has led to a rise in crime is nothing more than a “Republican nationally coordinated campaign of fear.” This statement, no matter how often repeated, is simply preposterous. The Senator ignores many facts, including that several notable Democrats are also asking for change to these reforms, specifically bail reform. This includes high profile Dems such as Rep. Tom Suozzi, a candidate for NY Governor and newly elected Mayor of New York City Eric Adams. Both are petitioning Albany for changes to these reforms.
“It is high time that our elected officials honor the rights and needs of crime victims and law-abiding citizens instead of pandering to the wants of criminals. The constant vilification of police officers, who risk their lives day in and day out while protecting all members of our society, must stop as well. If these electeds continue to be tone deaf, they may soon see themselves looking for a new job,” said Olson.
Several elected officials in Westchester have also called for bail reform. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said, in a recent interview on the Yonkers Voice with Ru Ros, “I’ve been saying for a while now that while I supported the concept of bail reform because the system has been unfair to black and brown people, especially with cash bail, the law was written with no input from District Attorneys, Mayor’s, law enforcement and judges.
“It took a lot of judicial discretion away. You have to believe in the system and in the ability of judges to make these decisions. The average new yorker is saying what’s going on here? We need to protect the residents of our city, some of who where guns are, can’t walk out of their home when it gets dark.”
“Under the old laws, there was an ability to keep some repeat offenders in jail. Some of our leaders are saying its a republican thing. That’s insane. Eric Adams, (NYC Mayor) and the Mayors of Syracuse and Rochester, and me, are all saying that we need to take another look at these laws. We are on the front lines and we see what’s happening,” said Mayor Spano.
County Legislator James Nolan said, “I wrote a letter to the Governor and our Albany representatives to recommend that they repeal or amend to The Cashless Bail Reform, The Raise The Age Law and other criminal justice laws. The revolving door of crime needs to come to an end and it must come now. Innocent people are becoming victimized more and more. I will not stand by and allow the constituents I represent of District 15, Westchester County, and New York State live in fear.
“This past week, I discussed the laws with my fellow Westchester County Board of Legislators members. My brother was murdered by someone that shouldn’t have been released, I have attended funerals for people I have never met to support the families because I know the pain, and the District I represent have spoken which I have no problem to speak up for them. Westchester County and New York State residents deserves to live in a safer community.
“I have spoke to many local officials and these repeals and changes are recommended to reduce crime and protect the innocent in our community. Repeal or amend The Cashless Bail Reform to allow the Judges to have discretion if they should release an individual or hold them especially for violent offenders. Repeal or amend The Raise The Age Law so that only the Judges can see the arrest history of the minor so that they can properly hand down a sentence. Fix the family court so that they can sentence the minor correctly,” said Nolan.
Yonkers City Councilman Mike Breen said, “These violent crimes committed with illegal guns have been occurring on a regular basis and the NYS legislators who refuse to change our laws to protect the law abiding are to blame. Day after day we are under attack by those that have no fear of punishment. The NYS legislature must act NOW before more innocent lives are lost.”
