Pushes Back on Bail Reform Advocates, Says “Look at the Facts” in Video Message
By Dan Murphy
Westchester County Executive George Latimer released a video on Feb. 14 which provides a statistical analysis of crime data that points to a continued decline in overall crime in Westchester. Latimer’s one minute video, https://vimeo.com/677331420, is titled Crime Has Been Down and continues to go down in Westchester County
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, in a recent video to members of Indivisible NYCD 16 said, “They are linking crime to bail reform. Crime is going up in some places but not in Westchester, according to the County Executive.”
Stewart-Cousins has pushed back on those pushing for bail reform in New York, and instead supports keeping the criminal justice reforms passed two years ago in place.
Latimer’s video supports Stewart-Cousins claim with factual data. “You might have heard that crime is out of control and that criminals are running rampant. Let’s look at the numbers, let’s look at the facts. Because here in Westchester County crime is down.”
The video then shows crime data, comparing 2017 crimes to 2021 crimes.
Violent crimes, murder, rape, robbery and aggrivated assault, are down in every category and as a total, from 1,484 in 2017-to 1074 in 2021, a 27.6% decrease.
Total crimes in Westchester County have decreased from 8,434 in 2017 to 6,196 in 2021. This reflects a 26.5% Total decreased in all indexed crimes in Westchester over the four year period, which also coincides with Latimer’s first four years in office. The decrease in crime has been refected in all categories of crime data, including a 26.3% decrease in property crimes.
“People move here and stay here for the advantages of living in Westchester County, one of which is they know it is a safe environment. Crime is down and will continue to go down. Together we are building a safer westchester for you to grow and thrive,” said Latimer.
Based on this data, and the argument from Stewart-Cousins that the criminal justice reforms enacted in New York State have not resulted in a more crime, the question now becomes are any bail or criminal justice reforms needed? And is Westchester County atypical of what is happening across the state and country?
