ICYMI: Rep. John Katko, Backed by Law Enforcement, Tries to Rein in NY Bail Reforms - Congressman John Katko
SYRACUSE, NY— Syracuse.com / The Post-Standard this week reported on the Stop Enabling Repeat Violence and Endangering (SERVE) Our Communities Act, a new bill introduced by U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24). The measure takes aim at Albany’s reckless bail reform laws by providing an incentive for New York State to adopt policies that provide prosecutors with the necessary tools to keep violent criminals behind bars.
Syracuse.com/The Post-Standard
By Mark Weiner
Rep. John Katko plans to introduce a bill today aimed at countering New York’s bail reform law by allowing judges to consider the danger of releasing repeat offenders charged with violent crimes.
Katko’s bill would make $10 million a year available nationwide for states that direct judges to consider “dangerousness” when determining whether to release a repeat offender before trial.
The money could be used to hire police officers and prosecutors or pay for public awareness campaigns that improve relations between police and the communities they serve.
New York changed its bail laws last year. In general, judges can set bail only for those accused of violent felonies. The idea was to keep the poor from sitting in jail while the rich go free.
Other states have modified their bail reform laws, empowering judges to make an exception to bans on bail and hold accused criminals before trial who are considered a threat to the community.
New York and Mississippi are now the only two states in the nation that have not made that exception.
Katko, R-Camillus, plans to discuss his bill at an appearance in Syracuse today with Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick and members of the New York Legislature, who support the measure.
Katko’s office said the bill is also supported by a niece and nephew of Connie Tuori, the 93-year-old killed in February at Skyline Apartments in Syracuse.
No evidence has been made public to show that New York’s bail reforms played a role in the Skyline homicide case.
Victoria Afet, the 23-year-old Syracuse woman accused of torturing Tuori to death on Feb. 26, had been arrested seven times in 2020 and twice in 2021.
On Feb. 18, about a week before Tuori was killed, Afet was charged with robbing and biting a 76-year-old woman at Skyline Apartments.
In that case, a Syracuse City Court judge released Afet the next day.
Afet had been charged with a crime that typically cannot result in suspects being held in jail on bail.
Prosecutors asked Syracuse City Court Judge Felicia Pitts Davis to use a legal exemption to set bail and hold Afet in jail. But the judge decided not to use the exemption.
Katko said his bill, the SERVE Our Communities Act, would give prosecutors more tools to hold repeat offenders on bail. He said judges should be allowed “to thoroughly consider public safety when making bail or pretrial release decisions.”
The bill is backed by law enforcement organizations that include the Fraternal Order of Police, National District Attorneys Association and National Association of Police Organizations, Katko’s office said.
Katko chose to unveil the bill on the eve of Election Day, reminding voters about the divide between Republicans and Democrats over the issue of police and criminal justice reforms.
In his 2020 election campaign, Katko made New York's bail reforms a central issue of his campaign.
So far, Katko has picked up support for his bill only from Republican colleagues in Congress, making it unlikely the measure will advance in the Democratic-controlled House.
The seven co-sponsors are all Republican members of New York’s congressional delegation, including Reps. Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford, and Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville.
Such partisan bills are unusual for Katko, who tends to seek out Democratic co-sponsors before proposing legislation.
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source: https://katko.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-rep-john-katko-backed-law-enforcement-tries-rein-ny-bail-reforms
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