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Faggione supports citizen safety, opposes allowing criminals a free pass

December 10, 2019 - Cuddebackville, NY - Orange County Legislator Thomas Faggione is co-sponsoring a resolution imploring New York State to amend and delay the new bail and discovery reform laws. The resolution is on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the Rules, Enactments, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the Orange County Legislature.

The new bail and discovery laws, which go into effect January 1, 2020, eliminate bail for many criminal charges, including crimes that result in the deaths of innocent people, including several subcategories of homicide and manslaughter.

“The rush to force through the liberal agenda in Albany has put the safety of our communities and our citizens at risk. Politicians in Albany are putting criminals first, victims second. It is time we send a message to those who have all the power in Albany. The citizens of New York will not be put at risk by Albany’s liberal social engineering”, said Faggione, Chairman of the Rules Committee.

The resolution seeks the following:

  1. Give judges the discretion to impose bail when appropriate for all the crimes

    enumerated in this resolution

  2. Increase the discovery timeline from 15 days to a minimum of 45 days

  3. Phase in discovery reform by applying these new mandates only to

    misdemeanors effective January 1, 2020, and then to felonies effective

    January 1, 2021, and repeal the provision that makes the new discovery

    mandates applicable to violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law

  4. Require that court appearance reminders are sent not only to defendants

    but also to the victims of their crimes

  5. Extend appropriate dignity, fairness and respect to crime victims by soliciting

    input from victim advocate organizations and considering their suggestions for

    improving these laws

  6. Provide New York State financial support to counties that wish to implement

    and/or expand alternatives to incarceration and pre-trial supervision programs

    and electronic management systems necessary to the goal of successful bail

    reform

The Orange County Legislative Committee on Rules, Enactments, and Intergovernmental Relations meets Wednesday, December 11th, 3:30 pm, in the Orange County Government Center 255, Main Street, Goshen, NY. Meeting takes place in the legislative committee meeting room, 3rd floor. This meeting is open to the public.

The Rules committee chaired by Thomas Faggione and includes members Michael Amo, John S. Vero, Barry J. Cheney, Katie Bonelli, Kevin W. Hines, James M. Kulisek, Michael D. Paduch.

Complete agenda for the Rules Committee can be found at the link here: