Rep. Elise Stefanik (R, NY-21) rebuked the bail reform legislation pushed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, which loosens restrictions on inmates leaving jail; disguised as “criminal justice reform,” this legislation endangers community members.
Gov. Cuomo’s legislation eliminates cash bail requirements for non-violent crimes and misdemeanors, and mandates release for those guilty of such crimes. It also proposes supervision and pretrial release of defendants as an alternative. Cuomo has received immense criticism on this bill because the lax restrictions have let violent criminals roam free.
Rep. Stefanik signed onto the bipartisan Bill’s Promise Act, which empowers the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess those individuals released on the federal, state and local levels:
“The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on how individuals charged with Federal crimes and granted pretrial release are monitored. The study shall—
(1) provide a review of policies related to how United States probation and pretrial services officers monitor individuals on pretrial release; (2) compare the policies of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts with respect to the monitoring of individuals on pretrial release to the policies of States and localities with respect to the monitoring of individuals on pretrial release; (3) provide data on the number and type of offenses committed by individuals on Federal pretrial release over the past 10 years; (4) describe how United States probation and pretrial services officers respond when an electronic monitoring device indicates that individuals are not complying with the conditions of their pretrial release; (5) describe how United States probation and pretrial services officers respond when there are indications that an electronic monitoring device has been tampered with; (6) describe what measures the Administrative Office of the United States Courts takes to ensure that probation and pretrial services offices are adhering to and correctly implementing policies related to the supervision of individuals on pretrial release; (7) examine the capacity in which the United States Probation and Pretrial Services System enlists the assistance of State and local law enforcement agencies in monitoring individuals on pretrial release and responding to indications an individual is not complying with the terms of the individual’s pretrial release; and (8) examine resource and capacity issues currently impacting officer retention and the administration of pretrial and probation services,” the bill reads.
Rep. Stefanik hailed the bipartisan efforts put forth by the Bill’s Promise Act, which unified Republicans and Democrats in order to protect citizens:
Governor Cuomo's new bail reform is extremely dangerous for #NY21 communities and families. Read about my work against it in the @SunCmtyNews: "Stefanik co-sponsors legislation on new bail reform laws" https://t.co/t4H6rqXGES
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) January 23, 2020
The Bill’s Promise Act gives law enforcement and the GAO a seat at the table, and empowers these agencies to protect communities from violence.