Copyright 2015 linkinglewiscounty.com  all rights reserved       privacy policy here
Sen. Griffo Joins Law Enforcement and Legal Professionals
to Express Concerns With State Criminal Justice Reforms

April 05, 2019   02:45 p.m.
Shop for 2016 NFL Drafted Player Jerseys at NFLShop.com
Subscribe to our
YouTube Channel
    Press Release from Senator Griffo's Office:

    Sen. Griffo joins law enforcement and legal professionals to express
    concerns with criminal justice reforms in state budget

    State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, Oneida County First Assistant District
    Attorney Michael Coluzza, New York State Sheriff’s Association President and
    Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol and Lewis County Sheriff Michael Carpinelli
    detailed their concerns with several pro-criminal reforms that were included in the
    state budget that was passed earlier this week.

    The reforms in the budget includes new measures that will tie the hands of the
    prosecutors and law enforcement officials who work tirelessly to pursue justice
    for victims and to keep communities safe. The new changes also will make it
    harder for police officers to do their jobs.

    This misguided plan, nicknamed the Criminal’s Bill of Rights, includes:     
    ·Changes that will let up to 90 percent of individuals arrested for a crime
    walk free and who will instead receive an appearance ticket from the office.
    Offenses for which individuals will be issued an appearance ticket but will
    not be detained includes, but is not limited to, second-degree burglary,
    fourth-degree arson, first or second-degree unlawful imprisonment and
    seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

    ·An end to cashless bail for everything shy of the most severe violent
    felonies.

    ·The reduction of sentences for illegal immigrants who commit crimes for the
    sole purpose of helping them evade deportation.

    ·Discovery “reform” that will weaken prosecutorial authority and has the
    potential to jeopardize witnesses and their safety.

    ·Weakening the authority of police officers by subjecting them to
    unnecessary and time-consuming review that could cause officers to
    second-guess themselves, which could put their safety at risk.

    ·The closure of three prisons.

    ·A measure limiting the public release of mugshots, a clear threat to public
    safety and a blow to openness, transparency and the public's right to know.

    Sen. Griffo said, “With so many communities struggling with increasing amounts
    of violent crime and gang violence, the last thing we should do is make it harder
    for law enforcement to keep us safe. These reforms will tip the scales of justice
    toward criminals and against prosecutors and police. Simply put, the state budget
    crafted by Democrats in Albany doesn’t make our communities any safer.”

    Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara said, “As a profession, we
    remain open to input from the communities we serve and to the legislature that
    seeks to serve all of us. However, judgment and caution must be observed when
    contemplating changes that are urged just for the sake of change, or in reaction
    to anecdotal events that have had unfortunate outcomes. The law must always
    seek to provide police and prosecutors with the tools that they need in order that
    guilt not escape nor innocence suffer. The legislative initiative now contemplated
    is ill advised. It seeks a one-size-fits-all approach to bail that will result in
    dangerous and violent offenders either failing to return to court, or worse,
    returning to the victim who they traumatized. This will have a profoundly adverse
    impact upon public safety and make our jobs harder without a corresponding
    increase to the fairness of our justice system."

    New York State Sheriff’s Association President and Oneida County Sheriff
    Maciol said, “Instead of using taxpayers’ money to pass more legislation that
    protects and defends criminals, let’s focus our attention on fighting to protect and
    defend the victims of crime, which in turn keeps our communities safe. I greatly
    appreciate Sen. Griffo's advocacy of police and law enforcement during his time
    in office.”

    Lewis County Sheriff Carpinelli said, “It is sad to see the Governor, who once
    stood for justice, fairness and law enforcement, cave to unreasonable and
    mindless legislation that protects no one. I am glad to see that Sen. Griffo and
    others are standing up for the law enforcement community.”
State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, was joined Friday by law enforcement and legal
professionals to discuss concerns with pro-criminal reforms that were in the state
budget that was passed earlier this week. Pictured from left to right, Oneida County First
Assistant District Attorney Michael Coluzza, Lewis County Sheriff Michael Carpinelli,
Sen. Griffo, New York State Sheriff’s Association President and Oneida County Sheriff
Rob Maciol and Oneida County Undersheriff Joseph Lisi.