This week, Angelo J. Morinello (R,C,I,Ref-Niagara Falls) supported a bill introduced by Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C,I-Deerpark) that would fully repeal criminal justice reforms passed during the 2019 Legislative Session. Changes to our bail reform system have raised concerns regarding the safety of communities due to the inability of judges to hold criminals after arrest. In January, hundreds of defendants deemed “non-violent” will be free without bail while they await trial. The “non-violent” offenses include manslaughter in the second degree, money laundering in support of terrorism, failure to register as a sex offender, criminal sale of a controlled substance and promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child. These changes faced widespread criticism from legislators, law enforcement officers, lawyers, judges and attorneys due to the limitations they place on judges, and the risk of releasing accused criminals back into the community before their trial.

“The bill introduced by Assemblyman Brabenec should send a message to families and law enforcement officers that our conference is on the forefront to defend and protect their rights and safety,” said Morinello. “Earlier this year, downstate politicians promoted and passed sweeping criminal justice reforms that jeopardize the safety of our communities and restrict law enforcement officers from performing their duty.

“If we fail to act on these criminal justice reforms, we’re doing a disservice to our constituents and putting every community across the state at risk. I’m asking each member of the legislature to support this bill to repeal the criminal justice reforms passed earlier this year.”