Progressive AG Letitia James warns about New York’s coming criminal justice disaster
By Post Editorial Board
New York Post
October 30, 2019
Cash shortages aside, the reforms — which require defendants to be set free with no bail for all but a handful of violent crimes — are set to trigger a host of new public safety concerns, such as witness intimidation and allowing the accused to flee, this will probably suffice:
When even officials as progressive as state Attorney General Letitia James are warning of big problems with New York state’s latest criminal justice “fixes,” it’s time to worry.
At a Senate hearing Monday, James aide Kate Powers, on behalf of the AG, raised major red flags about reforms rushed through the Legislature this year — especially those requiring prosecutors to turn over all evidence within 15 days of an arraignment. That includes police and medical reports, videos, phone records, forensic findings, etc.
Powers praised lawmakers for moving to “mend our broken criminal justice system” and reform the discovery process. But she warned that “the challenges” of complying with the new mandates are “real.”
To comply, DAs with just a few attorneys for an entire county may have to “double” their support staffs, she noted. The largest offices, with the “most complex cases,” may need “investments in the double-digit millions.”
Even the state AG’s office, which handles a far smaller criminal caseload than county DAs, “will need a significant infusion,” to the tune of $10 million, Powers said. Yet there’s no sign the needed funds will be available.
Some DAs were even more blunt — and alarming: “The reforms, as drafted, are not practical,” railed Rensselaer County DA Mary Pat Donnelly. She blasted lawmakers for “playing roulette with public safety.”
Among other public safety concerns, the new rules greatly increase the chances for witness intimidation — since lawyers for the accused will know far sooner the names of those whom prosecutors might call to testify. Plus, DAs will have to drop some cases because they simply can’t meet the new requirements — especially when there’s no money to hire new staff.
Then, too, most accused will be sprung pending trial — only those charged with a handful of violent crimes will have to post bail. Expect more perps to flee before trial.
In short, New York may soon face a truly serious resurgence of crime.
It’s rare for this page to sympathize with officials demanding more taxpayer dollars. But state lawmakers clearly didn’t think through the consequences of these reforms.
Unless they fix the flaws and provide the funds to make the changes work before the new law kicks in Jan. 1, New Yorkers should brace for a major public safety disaster.
3 comments:
Believe it or not, an acquaintance of mine who used to work in New York City says large companies are slowly relocating out of the city and state one division at a time.
Oh. I forgot. New York has lost another resident. President Trump. His statement:
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House, is the place I have come to love and will stay for, hopefully, another 5 years as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, but my family and I will be making Palm Beach, Florida, our Permanent Residence. I cherish New York, and the people of New York, and always will, but unfortunately, despite the fact that I pay millions of dollars in city, state and local taxes each year, I have been treated very badly by the political leaders of both the city and state. Few have been treated worse. I hated having to make this decision, but in the end it will be best for all concerned. As President, I will always be there to help New York and the great people of New York. It will always have a special place in my heart!
The people have to force the government to be serious about crime (and confiscatory taxes). So far, that isn't happening. Eventually the whole corrupt place will fall on its ass when the productive citizens who can move do so. Soon only civil servants and welfare recipient will live there.
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