Controversial Bail Reform Changes Poised To Pass In NY Budget

NEW YORK CITY — A push to change New York's bail reform laws in the face of a growing crime wave appears poised for victory.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that lawmakers reached an agreement on the state's 2022-2023 that includes a spate of tweaks to bail laws.

All that stands between those changes to become officials is lawmakers to approve the budget — which they were expected to Friday — and Hochul to sign it.

"We are not moving backwards," she said. "We are moving forward with a thoughtful approach."

But advocates quickly criticized the changes.

A coalition of attorneys with groups that included The Legal Aid Society called the changes "reactionary and ill-informed."

"The facts are clear: bail reform has not caused the increase in gun violence in New York," they said in a statement. "And yet, our elected leaders are considering capitulating to fear and politics by rolling back provisions of a successful policy instead of addressing the very real problems that our communities are facing, including a mental health crisis, gun violence, and poverty.

"These rollbacks would lead to the pretrial incarceration of more legally innocent Black and brown people charged with the lowest level misdemeanors. It would separate thousands of children from their parents and further destabilize the lives of people who are most vulnerable."

The budget agreement makes more repeat offenses eligible for bail, allows judges to set bail for gun charges and change aspects of a "Raise the Age" law that could keep more people under 18 behind bars before trial.

Mayor Eric Adams, who pushed for many of those changes amid a sharp uptick in New York City crime, commended Hochul and lawmakers for making "some progress on public safety" but said in a statement that more work will be needed.

Likewise, Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch gave the deal an at-best lukewarm reception.

"Their priority is to make New Yorkers ‘feel safer,’ not to provide real public safety," he said in a statement. "Their proposed changes are political window dressing that won’t do much to change the reality on our streets. New York’s crime crisis requires comprehensive reforms that ensure swift and serious consequences for all violent criminals and repeat offenders."