As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and subsequent new year approach, Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) is warning constituents that it will be a not so happy new year unless lawmakers prevent dangerous criminal justice reforms from becoming law on January 1, 2020.

The so-called ‘bail reform’ measures, passed by a contingent of ultra-liberal lawmakers during last year’s budget process, will allow many suspected criminals, including those arrested for drug offenses, assault, robbery, child pornography and manslaughter, to be released following their arrest or arraignment without having to post bail. Furthermore, many will simply be issued an appearance ticket and expected to appear for their trial using their own goodwill (Good Luck!).

“This is one of the most frightening public safety crises our state has faced in a long time. To think that sex offenders and burglars will be released following their arrest with as little as an appearance ticket is shocking and disturbing,” McDonough said. “To think that this doesn’t incentivize crime, especially repeat offenses, is completely naïve and dangerous. Sadly, New York City politicians who run the Assembly pass laws first and worry about the consequences second – and in this case the consequences are dire.”

In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has committed to incentivizing suspected criminals to appear for trial by offering free Mets tickets, movie passes and gift cards. Clearly, in the nation’s biggest city, crime does pay.

McDonough has signed onto legislation that would fully repeal the new criminal justice laws and is calling on the governor to force a special session before January 1 in order to reexamine the detrimental impact of bail reform. District attorneys and law enforcement officials across the state and on both sides of the aisle have remained staunchly opposed to the new laws. Unfortunately, Gov. Cuomo and Majority leadership have ignored the public safety outcry.

Thanks to Majority politicians overwhelmingly passing this law in the Senate and Assembly the following is a list of offenses which will not be subject to cash bail:

Burglary in the second degree (residential burglary)
Burglary in the third degree
Robbery in the second degree (aided by another person)
Robbery in the third degree
Manslaughter in the second degree
Criminally negligent homicide
Aggravated vehicular homicide
Vehicular manslaughter in the first and second degrees
Assault in the third degree
Aggravated vehicular assault
Aggravated assault upon a person less than eleven years old
Vehicular assault in the first and second degrees
Criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds
Criminal possession of a firearm
Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree
Criminal sale of a firearm to a minor
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and second degrees
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first and second degrees
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds
Use of a child to commit a controlled substance offense
Criminal sale of a controlled substance to a child
Patronizing a person for prostitution in a school zone
Promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child
Possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child
Promoting a sexual performance by a child
Failure to register as a sex offender
Bribery in the first degree
Bribe giving for public office
Bribe receiving in the first degree
Arson in the third and fourth degrees
Grand larceny in the first, second, third, and fourth degrees
Aggravated cruelty to animals
Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals
Failure to provide proper sustenance to animals
Animal fighting
Unlawful imprisonment in the first degree
Coercion in the first degree
Criminal solicitation in the first degree
Criminal facilitation in the first degree
Money laundering in support of terrorism in the third and fourth degrees
Making a terroristic threat
Obstructing governmental administration in the first and second degree
Obstructing governmental administration by means of a self-defense spray device
Promoting prison contraband in the first and second degrees
Resisting arrest
Hindering prosecution
Tampering with a juror
Tampering with physical evidence
Aggravated harassment in the first degree
Directing a laser at an aircraft in the first degree
Enterprise corruption
Money laundering in the first degree

“HAPPY NEW YEAR,” McDonough finished.