In her State of the State address, New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposed public safety policies that align with the priorities of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, including rolling back some discovery reforms from 2020 and making it easier to involuntarily hospitalize homeless individuals unable to care for themselves. However, she did not address Adams' push for changes to bail reform laws, instead urging judges to make better use of existing laws to address recidivism.
Adams expressed concerns that the current bail system allows repeat offenders to evade consequences, but Hochul emphasized working within the existing framework. Critiques of her proposals came from state Senator Michael Gianaris, who argued that further bail reform efforts would likely fail in the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
Hochul echoed Adams' concerns about discovery reforms, proposing changes to prevent cases from being dismissed over technicalities. Additionally, she advocated for increased police presence on subway trains and enhancements to involuntary commitment standards. Critics, including the Legal Aid Society, argued that involuntary hospitalization is not a solution for mental health issues, advocating instead for more outpatient support services.
Gov. Hochul backs key public safety reforms favored by NYC mayor, but not bail reform, in NY State of the State address
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