More state senators call for changes to bail reform law

Another Democratic state senator from Long Island is calling for changes in the state's recently enacted criminal justice reform laws.

News 12 Staff

Jan 27, 2020, 7:47 PM

Updated 1,552 days ago

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Another Democratic state senator from Long Island is calling for changes in the state's recently enacted criminal justice reform laws.
When Democrats took control of both houses of the state Legislature last year, this was one of their signature issues. But there has been an outcry from prosecutors, law enforcement groups and the general public after a series of incidents in which defendants were released after arrests and then allegedly committed other crimes almost immediately.
State Sen. Monica Martinez, of Brentwood, says the law needs to be amended to give judges better discretion whether suspects should be detained.
"What we're doing with this bill is just allowing the judges to have their job back and allowing them to show discretion when they have someone before them," said Martinez.
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Gov. Andrew Cuomo both say they are open to amendments to the bail reform. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat from the Bronx, has so far said he won't support any changes.


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