REPUBLIC LEGISLATIVES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND VICTIMS ‘LAWYERS DECLINE PRO-CRIMINAL POLICIES

Republican Senate Leader Rob Ortt today was joined by Republican lawmakers, law enforcement officials and victim advocates to denounce the latest pro-criminal and anti-victim legislation to come out of Albany under the one-party regime.

On September 17, Governor Hochul enacted the “Less is More” bill and, although the bill did not come into effect until March, ordered the general release of hundreds of criminals across the state. . Last week, the release of scores of violent criminals in Monroe County sparked outrage from law enforcement officials who were not even informed.

“The so-called ‘Less is More’ law is the latest in a long line of extreme pro-criminal, anti-victim and anti-law policies that endanger public safety and endanger New Yorkers – even though we let’s see an increase in violent crime in our communities across the state. Here in Monroe County, many violent criminals have been released onto the streets under this new law. We must reverse the tide of one-party rule in Albany and adopt common sense policies to support law enforcement and put the rights of victims and law-abiding citizens above those who break the law. “, said Chief Ortt.

“The so-called ‘criminal justice’ reforms passed by the Senate majority have hampered the application of local laws and their ability to keep our communities and families safe and must be repealed immediately. The consequences of these measures empower criminals and erode public safety, and their dire consequences are felt in neighborhoods across the state. I stand alongside our sheriffs, police chiefs and law enforcement men and women to advocate for policies that put public safety at the forefront ”, said Senator Pam Helming.

“It’s amazing how despite the wave of crime triggered by the horrific changes to the One Party Rule bail law, they continue to push for more dangerous measures like ‘Less is More’, which ignore common sense in order to promote a radical, pro-criminal agenda. Innocent New Yorkers, including children, have become the collateral damage of these laws. We are here today with our law enforcement partners, victims and victim advocates to say “enough is enough”. If we care about the safety of our families, our neighborhoods and the future of our state, we need legislation that puts the emphasis back on public safety, ” said Senator George Borrello.

“Instead of prioritizing measures that keep New Yorkers safe and fight to stop drastic levels of violent crime, our state’s goal is to find ways to bring law-breakers back into law. street even earlier. If New York is truly committed to improving our public safety, it is essential that we stop putting criminals first. We need to implement laws that protect us and our children. As a father of two, I want my children and all citizens of our state to be able to safely walk to the park when they are older, without fear of being the victim of violent crime. It is time to put our public safety first before it is too late ”, said MP Josh Jensen.

“The Less is More law is not good for Rochester. How easily we forget some of the most shocking crimes that have been committed by parolees, such as the murder of Rochester cop Daryl Pierson, ” noted James Van Brederode, Chief of Police, Gates Police Department .

“At some point, common sense has to enter the equation. Elected officials continue to politicize public safety and play with people’s lives ”, said Pat Phelan, executive director of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police.

“The New York criminal justice system has backed down in holding criminals to account. As a people we are going in the wrong direction and we will see more and more victims choosing not to participate in the system. “Less is More” is a step backwards “, said Patricia Huntington Siegel, an advocate for victims.

The “Less is More” law is the latest in a long line of disastrous policies put forward under the guise of “reforms” that have put New Yorkers at risk – starting with the so-called “bail reform”. In 2019.

In July, Chief Ortt wrote a letter to the Office of Courts Administration (OCA) and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to request a thorough and transparent analysis of the correlation between changes in release laws under New York State bail in the 2019-20 state budget and the increase in crime violence across the state since these laws came into effect on January 1, 2020.

The Republican Conference of the Senate introduced a law (S7397) sponsored by Senator Alexis Weik and co-sponsored by Chief Ortt, to require the OCA, in collaboration with the DCJS, to collect and publish data to show all the ramifications of the Bail Reform Act , notably :

• The number of people who have been charged with crimes that are no longer eligible for bail, and a breakdown of those charges;
• The number of individuals released pending trial because the offense is no longer eligible for bail and whether the individual has reoffended while awaiting trial; and
• The nature of the crimes committed by repeat offenders awaiting trial.

As the one-party regime in Albany continues to forge ahead with a dangerous pro-criminal agenda, Senate Republicans have made some common sense proposals to give law enforcement resources they must do their job in a safe and efficient manner, protect the rights of victims, and repair the one in New York broken parole system.