The Bronx Defenders Statement on the Governor’s Announcement to Weaken NY’s Bail Laws in the State Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org 

New York, NY – Following last night’s announcement by the Governor on a “conceptual agreement” on the State budget that includes changes to the bail laws, The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement: 

“Governor Hochul’s efforts to strip the ‘least restrictive means’ language from New York’s bail law is an abdication of the promises made to New Yorkers in 2019 as part of much needed and overdue reforms. Weakening New York’s bail law risks endangering the lives of New Yorkers by unnecessarily sending more people to death traps like Rikers Island. It is not supported by any of the existing data, and it only make our City less safe. Lawmakers must reject any attempts to weaken the law and call the Governor’s effort out for what it is: an unnecessary and cowardly response to law enforcement propaganda and fear mongering.” 

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