On the day that the Senate majority held a public hearing…

On the day that the Senate majority held a public hearing on the implementation of discovery reform legislation passed as part of the State Budget, Sheriff Maciol joined a number of elected officials and others from Upstate New York who gathered with NYS Senator Joseph Griffo for a news conference to raise the alarm about the detrimental effect that this and other reforms and bills will have on many state residents.

Criminal Justice reforms included in the budget that provide for new measures, such as an end to cash bail for everything shy of the most severe violent felonies which will tie the hands of the prosecutors and law enforcement officials who work tirelessly to pursue justice for victims and to keep their communities safe.

Participants in today’s news conference urged the public to call, email and write Gov. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to express their displeasure with the upcoming changes. Their contact information is below:

Gov. Cuomo Phone: 518-474-8390 Address: NYS State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224

Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins Phone: (518) 455-2585 Address: 188 State Street Room 907, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247 Email: scousins@nysenate.gov

Speaker Heastie Phone: 518-455-3791 Address: LOB 932, Albany, NY 12248 Email: Speaker@nyassembly.

As the Sheriff of Oneida County and President of the NYS Sheriff’s Association , Maciol has significant concerns about the safety of the public once these bail reform changes take place. Releasing someone with a ticket to return to court when they were just charged with a violent crime such as breaking into an occupied home (Burglary 2nd degree) or when they knock an elderly person to the ground and steal their money (Robbery 2nd degree) is completely insane. Allowing a rapist to return to the home of the victim so they can inspect the crime scene and take photographs is unacceptable and will surely cause further pain and suffering to those victims. Clearly, these changes offer no help or assistance to the innocent victims of crimes and ties our hands when it comes to us keeping those same victims safe.

Sheriff Maciol, Lewis County Sheriff Mike Carpinelli, and St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells thank Senator Joe Griffo for hosting this event and thank all those who joined them today.