A number of proposed laws that advocates say would make the criminal justice system more fair for people charged with crimes face an uncertain future in Albany this year, as the Democrat-led state house grapples with backlash from critics who say reform measures have made New Yorkers less safe.
Two high-profile progressive laws that passed five years ago — bail reform and discovery reform — have since sparked fierce criticism from law enforcement, tough-on-crime politicians and New Yorkers concerned about the lasting effects of a pandemic-era crime spike. Now, even as crime levels drop, some scholars and legislators told Gothamist they don’t expect progressive criminal justice reform policy to be a priority this year.
“The fatigue and the negativity around criminal legal system reform that has kind of built up over the past few years I think is making it more challenging than it should be or otherwise would be,” said Jullian Harris-Calvin, program director at the Vera Institute of Justice.
This year, advocates are continuing to campaign for more than 10 measures, some of which have failed to garner enough support to become law in recent years. It’s unclear if they’ll have enough votes to pass this legislative session.
One pair of bills would increase access to parole for people who are elderly or can demonstrate to the parole board that they no longer pose a safety risk. Another measure would end so-called mandatory minimum sentences — requirements that judges impose predetermined prison terms for certain crimes.
Others would eliminate court fines and fees, allow judges to reduce a person’s sentence after a period of time, and make the clemency application process more transparent.
Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Democrat who represents central Brooklyn, said he hopes lawmakers will support measures he believes would keep communities safe and make the legal system more just — even if those proposals aren’t “politically expedient.” Getting them passed,…
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