Sen. Griffo continues push for changes to bail in New York

New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, today continued his advocacy for needed changes to the state’s criminal justice system that will protect New Yorkers and keep communities safe.

The senator’s push comes after law enforcement authorities say that a Texas man was arrested and released without bail multiple times this past week following alleged burglaries and larcenies in Oneida and Oswego counties.

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Bryan Salazar, of Del Rio, Texas, was taken into custody and charged with third-degree burglary, a class D felony, for allegedly taking items from a construction office in Whitestown on Oct. 26.

It was then discovered that Salazar had been arraigned on felony burglary and grand larceny charges three times on Oct. 25 and released without bail after each instance due to a new bail law that went into effect at the beginning of 2020.

Salazar is being held on $10,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He is scheduled to appear in Town of Whitestown Court today.

Since changes to bail were first proposed, Sen. Griffo has actively worked with law enforcement, district attorneys and others to raise the alarm regarding the impact that the changes to bail and other criminal justice-related modifications would have across the state.

Sen. Griffo has introduced legislation (S4258) that would allow the witness to a crime to decide whether their personal information may be shared with defense counsel or the individual(s) accused of having committed a crime.

He also supports bills that would repeals the bail and discovery law changes enacted by the legislative majorities in 2018; provide courts with the discretion to issue bail for repeat offenders; and would allow greater judicial discretion in setting a securing order with respect to a defendant’s prior felony convictions, failure to make an appearance in court, or subsequent arrests while awaiting trial.

“I questioned and was critical of changes to bail when they were first proposed and did not support the changes pushed and passed by the legislative majorities that control state government,” Sen. Griffo said. “Criminal justice reform is needed but these bail changes have not worked as intended and have resulted in the catch and release of individuals such as this time and time again. We must take action to reverse this disastrous policy and consider legislation that I and my Conference colleagues have proposed that includes practical and common sense ideas, initiatives and approaches that will offer additional protections to crime victims, institute needed changes to the state’s bail and discovery laws and make our communities safer.”

###