NYSACOP 2022

NYSACOP is pleased to announce the 120th annual conference of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police will again be held in Glens Falls, New York at the historic Queensbury Hotel.  This year's conference will be held July 24th - July 27th, 2022. Events include the President's Reception, the popular Lake George Dinner Cuise on the Lac du Saint Sacrement, and the installation dinner on a new night this year.  Registration for members will be open soon so save the date and check back. Registration for vendors is now open and can be done at the link below.  If you have questions, please call Executive Director Pat Phelan at 518-355-3371. See you at The Queensbury!

https://nysacop.memberclicks.net/vendorregistration2022

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 NYSACOP Statement on the 2022 State of the State Address

   The officers and members of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police are pleased to learn that Governor Hochul in her 2022 State of the State Address, has indicated her intention to prioritize public safety in 2022. We look forward to working with this administration in their commitment to using practical and proven strategies to help restore our neighbors’ sense of safety and security. Our association, with hundreds of professional law enforcement executives from across the state, stand ready to work with the Governor’s office and look forward to providing input on the process.

  We are optimistic that this moment represents a substantial step in furthering our shared mission of maintaining a criminal justice system that is fair, equitable, and keeps communities safe. These concepts should not be mutually exclusive. To that end, our association will encourage lawmakers to consider legislative action that will complement the Governor’s public safety initiatives including an amendment to the bail statute that will eliminate cash bail but allow judges the authority to consider remanding a small number of defendants based on a defined set of factors including danger to the community. We are grateful for the Governor’s partnership, and we look forward to 2022 being a safer year for every New Yorker.

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Press Release

CHANGE TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENSURE FAIRNESS IN
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Common Sense Changes to Our Criminal Justice Laws Can Reverse Inequities to
Crime Victims

Today, December 9, 2021, the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police sent to New York State elected officials a number of proposed amendments to the State’s bail law, criminal discovery law, and other criminal justice laws that have an every-day impact on the public’s safety. You can find a link to our legislative proposals on our website at www.nychiefs.org. Members of the Association joined the family members of victims of violent crime at the State Capitol to make a pledge to protect our communities.

These common sense changes will fix several issues with these laws which have undermined the justice system and threatened the safety of all New Yorkers. These amendments will achieve a balance between maintaining the spirit of necessary criminal justice reform and enhancing the safety of our communities through continued collaboration, as well as ensuring fairness to crime victims and the accused.

“The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police puts forth these legislative proposals in the sincere hope that the legislature considers amending the laws to ensure a fair and equitable system for all New Yorkers. The people of New York deserve safe streets and safe communities,” said Chief Timothy Parisi, President, New York State Association of Chiefs of Police.

“We understand the need for the original legislation. Two years of experience with the new legislation and data shows us the need for some adjustment. We are suggesting adjustments to the legislation so that the laws are fair for everyone, those accused of crimes and victims of crime.  Our motivation is simple, to keep New Yorkers safe, period,” said Chief (Ret.) Patrick D. Phelan, Executive Director, New York State Association of Chiefs of Police.

“I lost both of my sons to gun violence, I carry that pain each day, and I am tired of seeing other parents lose their children to the senseless violence becoming all too common in our communities throughout New York State. It is simple. If something is broken, it needs to be fixed. Perpetrators of violence should not be repeatedly unleashed back into our neighborhoods shortly after being arrested. Crime victims should be able to engage with the police without fear or apprehension.  And there needs to be real consequences for those who pick up a gun and terrorize our streets.  Our communities cannot wait much longer, we need the legislature to fix the recent criminal justice reform laws,” said Jackie Rowe-Adams, co-founder of Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E.

“I remember my son each and every day. We cannot forget him and others who have been lost to gun violence. We have to do everything we can to make sure that the violence stops and no one else loses their lives prematurely, and that starts with keeping dangerous people off of our streets.  Judges in New York State need to have discretion to remand people who continue to plague our communities with violence and crime. These laws need to be fixed now,” said Eve Hendricks, a Bronx mother who lost her seventeen year-old son, Brandon, in 2020 when he was struck by gunfire while attending a barbecue.

"Meaningful efforts to prevent crime, build public trust and create a more efficient and successful criminal justice system requires an ongoing examination of our current laws. I commend the New York State Association of the Chiefs of Police for recognizing that an ongoing and thoughtful review of our state's criminal justice laws is necessary to maintain a fair justice system while also maintaining public safety. Going forward, I encourage our lawmakers to consider further modifications to bail, discovery and other criminal justice measures that strike a sensible balance between the rights of defendants and the public safety of New York's residents, businesses and visitors," said Washington County District Attorney J. Anthony Jordan, President District Attorneys Association of the State of New York.

“Bail and Discovery reform was overdue, and the efforts to bring equity and greater transparency into the system are laudable and something that we strongly support. However, the actual practice and applications of the 2020 reforms require modification. The proposals laid out by the Chiefs Association are very reasonable, and more importantly from the perspective of public safety professionals and experts, they are necessary to restore safety and order in our state,” said David Soares, Albany County District Attorney.

“No one here disagrees that reform was necessary. We have always said that. But these laws have had immediate unintended consequences on the safety of our cities. We believe these proposed changes can accomplished both goals: bringing important reforms to the criminal justice system while not making our streets more dangerous,” said Commissioner Dermot Shea, New York City Police Department.

"Changes to the criminal justice system were necessary to remove the inequity that some members in the community were faced with for many decades. However, some of those changes to Bail Reform threatened public safety. Far too often over the last two years, violent offenders benefited from Bail Reform changes which led to their quick release, only to re-offend. The increase of violent crime has been felt in all parts of our communities with damaging effects. We’re standing here today in support of these proposed Legislative changes that will ensure the needs of crime victims and protect our communities from violent offenders,” said Commissioner Byron C. Lockwood, Buffalo Police Department.

“We in NYS law enforcement fully recognize and acknowledge the need for the many criminal justice reforms that had been passed in 2020. Since that time, we now have had a considerable amount of time to evaluate the data as it relates to the legislative changes. We are now in a position to share what we think are common sense adjustments that address the small subset of our most prolific and violent offenders that drive crime in all offense categories. I am confident that our recommended changes strike the appropriate need for criminal justice reforms while at the same time, gives us the tools we need to keep our communities as safe as possible,” said Commissioner John Mueller, Yonkers Police Department.

“Criminal justice reform was welcomed and long overdue. After review of both intended and unintended consequences of the legislation, we believe law enforcement leaders and the state legislature can work together to find a solution that protects the citizens of New York in a fair and equitable way,” said Chief Kenton Buckner, Syracuse Police Department.

“It is important that law enforcement and the legislature continue with efforts to enhance criminal justice reforms. I’m confident that these discussions will lead to safer communities across the State of New York,” said Chief Eric Hawkins, Albany Police Department

Summary of Proposed Amendments

Bail

1. Eliminate cash bail altogether by eradicating the inequities that allow wealth to determine freedom;
2. Allow judges to consider a defendant’s public safety risk, so that the people who pose the biggest threat to our communities do not continue to endanger our communities.

Criminal Discovery

1. Stagger the discovery schedule to ease administrative burdens while at the same time providing enough information to defendants to make informed decisions;
2. Limit discovery to relevant and material information and not to all information that is tangentially related to the case and provides no probative value;
3. Allow the prosecution to answer ready for trial if they have substantially complied with discovery, preventing cases from being dismissed because duplicative and non-material information is provided later in the discovery process.

Juvenile Justice – “Raise the Age Law”

1. Allow judges in Youth Part to see family court records so that defendants do not appear in front of the Youth Part judge as a perpetual first time offender;
2. Amend the statute of limitations in family court so that individuals who commit crimes days before their 18th birthday can be prosecuted after their 18th birthday.

Appearance Tickets

1. Expand the list of crimes for which police are not required to issue appearance tickets to include additional serious offenses;
2. Limit the ability for chronic offenders to continually receive appearance tickets so that they are not immediately released back into the community.

The NYS Association of Chiefs of Police urges the Legislature to consider our proposed amendments in order to strengthen the criminal justice system and protect our communities statewide. It is time to for us to work together to create fair, just and effective reform laws in a way that ensures all New Yorkers are safe.

To review the individual amendments (in PDF format), click on the links below: