Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) is once again calling on Albany to reimplement judicial discretion at the local level in our courts when bail is set for accused offenders. This follows a press conference held by Assembly and Senate Minority Colleagues today where Tammy Patrick, who recently lost her father to violence from a repeat offender, spoke. The defendant was allowed free thanks to the bail reform policies passed in 2019. DeStefano is heartbroken and frustrated like all of New York is.

“It is frustrating to know that we could be doing more to protect our communities but the supermajority in the Legislature just won’t do it,” Destefano said. “Time and time again, my conversations with law enforcement, judges, correctional officers and members of the community all circle around the issue of public safety and how New York is blatantly ignoring the problems facing our neighborhoods. I don’t want to hear more stories like that of Ms. Patrick and her family, I want the Legislature to recognize that we need action.”