Prosecutors, police chiefs propose eliminating bail in exchange for judicial discretion
ALBANY, NY (WRGB) — Albany county District attorney David Soares had called the bail reforms an overcorrection. He stood by that stance with law enforcement leaders outside the Capitol.
“We’ve known for a long time that change needed to happen. But the changes that did happen did not benefit the community at large,” Soares said.
The bail reforms already eliminated bail for most misdemeanors, low level felonies and non violent felonies.
MORE: Bail bonds industry reacts to proposal to eliminate bail
now roughly two years since they took effect - a new proposal from Patrick Phelan, who is the executive director of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police.
“What we’re asking for is the removal of cash bail. And with that we’re asking for the legislature give judges the discretion to remand people to jail,” Phelan said at the press conference.
“Well we’ve got two years of data we’ve got two years of experience and we’ve seen record level crime sprees,” Phelan said.
MORE: Timeline: Aftermath of bail reform law in New York
Phelan says their proposal would give judges the choice to still remand someone, or release them without any kind of monetary condition. He already has a bill drafted. But state lawmakers are way ahead of him. the bail Elimination act of 2019 would have made those changes but it never made it out of committee.
“Well I think this is the right time this is an appetite for change. They have seen the unintended consequences of bail reform,” Phelan said.
Phelan and the other members of law enforcement who Spoke at the presser also wanted to make changes to discovery laws and raise the age legislation. The legislature’s next session starts next month.
