Orleans DA says policies from Albany make community less safe

Editor:

The New York State Legislature adjourned last month and once again, law-abiding New Yorkers are left wondering whether Kathy Hochul and the downstate-led Senate and Assembly are listening to the communities forced to live with the consequences of its policies.

While the state budget increased by billions of dollars and hundreds of bills passed both houses, they did not confront the very real public safety threat that many prosecutors, law enforcement officers, victims, and residents have been warning about for years.

Albany’s experiment with pro-criminal policies continues.

Over the past several years, New York has enacted a series of criminal justice reforms that have systematically weakened accountability and tilted the scales away from victims and public safety.

Bail Reform has repeatedly limited judges’ ability to detain repeat offenders who pose a danger to our communities.

Raise the Age has shifted serious juvenile offenders into a system that too often prioritizes ideology over accountability.

The Clean Slate Act seals criminal records on an unprecedented scale, making it harder for employers, landlords, and the public to access information that may be relevant to important decisions.

Each of these policies was sold to the public as necessary reform. Together, they have produced a criminal justice system increasingly disconnected from common sense.

As Orleans County district attorney, I see the consequences firsthand.

I see victims who are frustrated and fearful when offenders are quickly returned to the streets. I see police officers undermined by a revolving-door system that too often treats repeated criminal behavior as an inconvenience rather than a threat. I see communities struggling with retail theft, drug-related crime, and repeat offenders cycling through the system without meaningful consequence.

Yet despite growing concern from residents across the state, Albany ended the legislative session without taking action to restore balance.

There was no comprehensive effort to strengthen judicial discretion in bail decisions. No serious reconsideration of policies that have undermined accountability. No acknowledgment that perhaps the people closest to the problem like local prosecutors, law enforcement leaders, victims, and community members might have legitimate concerns.

Public safety should not be a partisan issue. Every New Yorker, regardless of political affiliation, deserves safe neighborhoods, safe schools, and confidence that the justice system will hold offenders accountable while protecting the rights of the accused.

Unfortunately, this legislative session provided little reason for optimism. Albany had an opportunity to make New York safer and less hospitable to criminals. It chose not to take it.

But that doesn’t mean we stop the fight.

Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley have been strong partners and fierce advocates for fixing the broken system. They deserve our thanks for fighting the uphill battle in Albany on behalf of the District Attorney’s office and all Orleans County residents.

I’ll continue to do my part to join the growing calls for change and use my platform to advocate for victims and secure justice for our community.

Susan Howard

Orleans County district attorney