In response to the New York State Legislature’s unwillingness to correct “an extremely dangerous and flawed” bail reform, Yonkers Council Minority Leader Mike Breen is urging the legislative leadership and Yonkers delegation to act immediately.
“Enough is enough,” said Breen. “How many more criminals need to be released upon committing a heinous act just to commit another one before something is done. I implore Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Sen. Shelley Mayer, Assemblyman Nader Sayegh and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow to protect our citizens and victims of these crimes.”
Since Jan. 1, when this law took effect, there have been daily reports of lifetime criminals being released and committing additional crimes, according to Breen.
“While violent crimes were to be omitted from this perilous law, the fact remains they weren’t,” he said. “Vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, and assault need to be considered violent. Additionally, crimes of a sexual nature, hate crimes, assault of a police officer, and crimes involving children and our senior population – who are among the most vulnerable – most certainly should require bail. While there have been reports of the NYS Legislature discussing some changes, the time for discussion is over and action is needed now.”
While other states have limited the use of bail, New York is now one of the few to abolish bail for many crimes without also giving judges the discretion to consider whether the accused poses a threat to public safety in deciding whether to hold them. For example, there is one offender in Yonkers who, since Jan. 1, has been arrested four times in eight days, and each time, he has been released because the judge has no ability to consider cash bail.
“Continuing with a law that threatens our state’s citizens while not allowing our judges to remand those who are undoubtedly deserving of it is plain wrong and we deserve better,” said Breen. “This is not justice.”
