Harvey Austin Elementary School is currently involved in a statewide debate regarding criminal justice reform following a burglary incident on December 5
Dec 23, 2024
Harvey Austin Elementary School is currently involved in a statewide debate regarding criminal justice reform following a burglary incident on December 5. Larry White, a 26-year-old from Buffalo, was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and grand larceny after police responded to the school’s alarm and found that various electronic items had been stolen. Surveillance footage assisted in identifying White, who has a lengthy criminal history, including 17 outstanding warrants across several municipalities.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia highlighted concerns about repeat offenders like White, linking the issue to New York's bail reform laws enacted in January 2020. While he acknowledged that the reform aimed to prevent low-level offenders from facing jail time due to financial constraints, he criticized the lack of provisions for habitual offenders. The Buffalo Public Schools expressed appreciation to the police for the arrest but stated that they cannot comment further due to the ongoing investigation.