1.21.20 - Senator Fred Akshar Releases New Survey on Bail Reform

Senator Fred Akshar released his latest Community Voice Survey on the controversial new bail reform law that went into effect at the beginning of the year.

The Community Voice Survey follows a recent Siena College Poll (full results)that showed declining support for the measure. The poll found 49% of respondents said the changes were bad for New York while 37% said they were good for the Empire State.
 

“It’s clear that as the public learns more and begins to see the practical consequences of this misguided new law, their opinions are shifting to align with district attorneys, and law enforcement professionals throughout the state,” said Senator Fred Akshar. “I’ve made it clear that I’ve been strongly opposed to this ill-conceived law, but I want to hear what constituents in the 52nd Senate District think.”

Akshar’s constituents are urged to voice their opinion on whether they support or oppose the new bail reform law or feel that changes need to be made.

The new bail reform measures were passed as part of the 2019-2020 Budget, and was passed solely through votes from Democratic members in both the Senate and Assembly.
 

“The law as currently written is a slap in the face to law-abiding citizens across the state,” said Akshar. “It’s created a revolving door that indiscriminately shuffles violent, non-violent, and repeat criminals in and out of the justice system as their crimes continue to multiply, but it’s not enough to criticize the terrible decisions those in power have made without offering solutions.

While Akshar does support a full repeal, he has also introduced legislation to fix key parts of the bail reform law, including a bill (S.7146) to restore bail for the violent and dangerous crimes, including manslaughter in the 2nd degree, criminally negligent homicide, reckless assault of a child, facilitating a sexual performance by a child, aggravated vehicular manslaughter, menacing, unlawful imprisonment, arson, criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds, failure to register as a sex offender, aggravated cruelty to animals, animal torture, stalking, burglary, robbery, hate crimes, patronizing a person for prostitution in a school zone, money laundering in support of terrorism, and aggravated assault.

He’s also introduced legislation (S.7205) to remove the option of cashless bail if the arrested individual has been convicted of a felony in the past 10 years.

“One Party Rule's all-Democrat leadership can either help us fix their terrible mistakes or stand by their rhetoric and bury their heads in the sand,” said Akshar. “If they choose the latter, the people who will suffer are those we were all elected to serve.”
 

Direct link to the survey: https://www.nysenate.gov/webforms/community-voice-survey-do-you-support-new-bail-reform-law