Adjustments really do need to be made to bail reform law

There has been a lot of discussion on the need for state officials to make adjustments to the bail reform laws that took effect this year, and seeing a Facebook post from the Troy Police Benevolent Association made me further realize changes need to be made as soon as possible.

I think there were good intentions behind changing the bail reform laws, however, seeing so many law enforcement officials and politicians on both sides of the aisle come out to say these changes need to be made to the new law is saying something about the flaws in the changes.

After seeing all of the offenses that are now eligible to be released on an appearance ticket blew my mind and shocked me. I think seeing the new law in action has made many others see the issue with some of the offenses such as burglary, robbery, manslaughter, assault and many other offenses being included on that list.

I know based on media reports and from hearing local legislators speak out, many state officials, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now realize some things need to be tweaked with the new law.

Getting back to that post from Troy PBA President Nicholas Laviano, it is crazy to hear the repeated offenses people are making now knowing they will keep getting released from custody right away.

Part of the Facebook post attributed to Laviano read as follows:

“The officers on the 2nd platoon arrested an individual twice during an 8-hour tour [on Monday]. Each time he was released on an appearance ticket. On the second release, he yelled to the officers ‘I will see you (expletive) in 15 minutes!’

“By the start of the 3rd platoon’s shift, there was a call in the lobby for an assault of someone in a wheelchair that had a brick thrown at them. Officers went into the lobby to interview the victim, and the suspect from before was also standing there in front of the officers.

“The same suspect had thrown a brick at the person in a wheelchair after being released on two different appearance tickets. The officers arrested the suspect for attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Because of the new bail reform law, the desk sergeant had to release him the first two incidents on an appearance ticket allowing him the chance to throw a brick at a defenseless person.”

Reading this post made me shake my head and wonder how it is right this individual has to continue being released after being arrested multiple times in one day. Also, hearing he basically told the officers that they would be seeing him again shortly by implying he would just go back out on the streets and commit another crime, is crazy to hear.

It’s also hard to hear this alleged suspect decided to throw a brick at someone in a wheelchair and he had to be released from custody yet again.

I hope state officials do make adjustments to the bail reform law and they make those changes soon since the law seems to put more citizens in danger by allowing alleged suspects back out on the street after committing some violent crimes.