Senator Hamilton on Governor Cuomo's Criminal Justice Proposals

(Brooklyn, NY - May 20, 2015) Senator Hamilton's comments on Governor Cuomo's proposed criminal justice reforms were highlighted by Kings County Politics today: Hamilton Reacts To Cuomo’s Take It Or Leave It Justice Reform Initiative.

Senator Hamilton stated, "Governor Cuomo’s criminal justice reforms represent an important starting point. But in addition to the measures the Governor proposes, I believe several factors need to be brought to the discussion. Both the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus of the New York State Legislature and President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing bring important insights. Insights like the need to broaden our perspective and include larger economic and social factors in these discussions – factors like education, employment, and expanding opportunities for success. Or factors like working to improve mental health provisions to prevent dangerous encounters between the police and the mentally ill."

Senator Hamilton continued, "We also need to focus on police-community confidence-building programs well in advance of problems emerging. Confidence-building can take many shapes, like the All Lives Matter, Criminal Justice Town Hall I co-hosted with community groups and elected colleagues. Confidence-building can also take the shape of the Criminal Justice Task Force I am working on with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. In the remaining time this session, I aim to voice the need for inclusion of these dimensions that must inform our response to these recent tragedies."