Assemblyman Kevin Byrne (R,C,I,SAM,ROS-Mahopac)recently joined Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, other members of the state Legislature, and a large delegation of law enforcement officials and district attorneys to call for an immediate fix of bail reform. Byrne is adamant that public safety be considered a number one priority for New Yorkers this year and fixing bail reform is the most direct way to strengthen the safety of our streets.
“New Yorkers deserve to be able to walk the streets of their towns and cities without fear,” Byrne said. “I have been very outspoken on repealing this disastrous overstep by the Democratic Majorities. How many more families need to lose loved ones? How many injuries, thefts and arsons? This is the chance to fix all of this pain and prevent future anguish.”
“Public safety in New York state has plummeted to an unsustainable level. That deterioration directly correlates with the pro-criminal mentality that has seeped into Albany policymaking. We stand here today calling on our colleagues across the aisle and Gov. Hochul to finally fix what they have broken,” said Leader Barclay. “I am pleased to see there has been interest in walking back some of these policies, but there is still much work to do. As we approach the deadline to pass the next state budget, I sincerely hope that progress manifests to state law.”
“For the past three years, New Yorkers have seen the disastrous effects of one-party rule on their safety and well-being. Violent crime rates are up, security in neighborhoods is down. It’s time for Albany leaders to admit what we all know—their record on public safety has been an abysmal failure, and they must decisively change course in this year’s state budget. That means no more criminal coddling. Supporting law enforcement. Repealing bail reform, making Kendra’s Law permanent and fixing New York’s discovery laws. Let’s restore public safety to our state,” said Leader Ortt.
In 2019, Democrats in Albany drastically overhauled New York’s criminal justice system. Those changes greatly diminished the public’s safety and enabled career criminals to enjoy wide latitude to operate in New York. As such, the Republican Conferences are calling for a substantial rollback of those policies, including increased judicial discretion in setting bail and changes to parole procedures.
After New York City Mayor Eric Adams, law enforcement officials and state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle criticized the wrong-headed liberal policies currently in place; reports indicate there may be an inclination to include changes in the budget.
The Assembly Republican Conference also reaffirmed its commitment to the “Restore Order” initiative, first announced in 2021. The components include:
Restore Judicial Discretion (A.5265) – Restores judicial discretion to allow judges the ability to determine whether a violent criminal poses a dangerous threat to the community and can be held without bail.
Bail for Gun Crimes (A.7066) – Removes all gun crimes from the no-bail list of offenses Democrats established in 2019.
Parole Reform (A.5737) – Requires a unanimous vote of at least three parole commissioners to grant a prisoner early release; allows a majority vote of the Legislature to remove a commissioner from the parole board.
Three Strikes & You’re In (A.5334) – Authorizes life in prison without parole for persistent violent felony offenders.
Shooting Into Crowds (A.4259) – Makes it a Class B violent felony to fire into a crowded space with the intent to harm.
Additional 5 Years for Possession (A.4762) – Provides for an additional 5-year term of imprisonment for committing a felony while possessing a loaded firearm.
Bail for Hate Crimes (A.3986) – Makes a hate crime a qualified offense for purposes of bail issuance and denying pre-trial.
Paula’s Law (A.6017) – Prevents the parole of anyone who sexually assaults and murders a child under 18 years of age.
The above information was previously distributed and made public for immediate release by the Office of Assemblyman Kevin Byrne