Is New York Closing in On Deal To Rollback Bad Bail Reforms?

 

New York state lawmakers are closing in on an agreement that could expand the circumstances in which cash bail would be required to include charges like gun trafficking as well as alleged repeat offenses, a top Democrat in the state Senate on Tuesday said. 

The development comes as lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul are close to putting the finishing touches on a broader state budget agreement, which had been expected to pass on Friday. 

Democratic lawmakers who control both chambers of the state Legislature, as well as Gov. Kathy Hochul, have been under pressure to make changes to the 2019 bail law that largely ended cash bail requirements for many criminal charges. Advocates for the measure had contended the law was meant to keep low-income defendants out of jail for legnthy periods of time while awaiting trial. 

But a national rise in violent crime has led to renewed concerns over public safety among voters in New York and spurred calls for changes ahead of the coming campaign season.

Hochul in March moved to include changes to the bail law amid growing criticism from Republicans and some Democrats that the law needed to be changed. The push to change the law and include further public safety measures likely prolonged the budget talks in Albany. 

"It seems like the beginning of the end," state Sen. Michael Gianaris said Tuesday afternoon of the negotiations. 

Gianaris added he expects the budget to be completed by Thursday. 

Lawmakers are closing in on the bail agreement that is also likely to be paired with changes to evidentiary discovery procedures, as well as more funding for local prosecutors to make evidence processed and available on a faster basis to defendants. 

At the same time, the budget will make charges for alleged hate crimes instances arrest eligible, an upgrade from the current desk ticket that is issued. 

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