Crime spike in New York, police lament criminal justice reform

New York City saw a significant increase in crime last month compared to February 2019. The number of major crimes increased by 22,5%, shootings - by 7,1%. This publication writes Fox News.

Crime surge

As stated in the New York police, January figures were also higher compared to the previous January, by 16,9%.

In the first two months of 2020, 16 serious crimes were recorded, compared with 343 for the same period in 13, which is 648 more crimes.

The New York City Police Department believes that criminal justice reforms are to blame. "Criminal justice reforms are an important reason New York City is seeing such a surge in crime," the NYPD said in a press release.

At the same time, law enforcement officers noted that the number of murders decreased by 20% compared to February last year. There were 20 murders in New York this year in February. The number of cases of rape also decreased slightly - in February 2020, 125 rapes were registered, and in February 2019 - 133. However, the police noted that data on rapes are still underestimated.

In the first 58 days of 2020, 482 people who were previously arrested for committing a serious crime (for example, robbery or burglary) were again arrested, according to the department, for a total of 846 crimes.

35%, or 299 people, were arrested for crimes committed in seven main categories: murder, rape, violent assault, burglary, large-scale theft and large-scale car theft. This number was three times higher than in the same 58 days at the beginning of 2019. “All of these people were arrested for crimes that, prior to January 1 and the beginning of the bail reform, could have put them in jail,” the New York police said.

How the city plans to fight crime

“We will continue to work hand in hand with New Yorkers and our law enforcement partners to focus on the causes of crime and ensure justice for victims,” said New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

City police are determined to act decisively. To begin with, law enforcement officers will identify 15 areas in which there is a surge in street crime, then they will increase the presence of policemen there, and focus on youth. The latest decision was made after a surge in youth crime, the report said.

As Shea noted, the police are pushing for criminal justice reform and bail. According to him, the current plan endangers witnesses and victims. “Fewer detainees awaiting trial and early disclosure of the names and contact information of victims and witnesses expose some of these victims and witnesses to the risk of intimidation or retaliation. "The perpetrators of the violence return to the community and will know the names of their prosecutors and where to find them."

“While the crime rate in New York is at an all-time low, there is still much work to be done to ensure that every New Yorker feels safe in their neighborhood. We will continue to use precision police patrols to target law enforcement and deepen our work with communities to combat crime, ”said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Cancellation Act

As part of the state budget for fiscal 2019-2020, passed on April 1, 2019, New York City removed bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes. This category of crimes includes: stalking, assault without grievous bodily harm, burglary, many drug offenses, even some types of arson and robbery. The law came into force on January 1, 2020.

Under the new law, judges cannot charge bail for misconduct or non-violent crime, even if the crime is charged with hate. Moreover, judges must release the accused, even if the latter have a criminal record.

On the subject: New York State Laws That May Affect Your Life In 2020

According to The New York Times, “while New Jersey, California, Illinois, and other states have restricted the use of bail, New York is one of the few states that canceled bail for many crimes without giving state judges freedom actions when deciding whether to keep a person in custody, whether he is a threat to public safety. "

As the date on which the law on reform of the bail system came into force was approaching, there was a surge in opposition from lawmakers, district attorneys, and law enforcement officials. They criticized the law for denying judges the ability to make critical decisions regarding certain categories of criminals. They also feared that "some defendants released under the new rules will continue to commit crimes, and some may try to intimidate potential witnesses."

Further criticism of the reform came after a wave of anti-Semitic and some other attacks throughout New York. These attacks raised concerns that the new law would endanger city residents.

As ForumDaily New York wrote earlier:

• In February 2020, New York was thief arrested 139th time already released. He thanked the Democrats, as his immediate release was made possible precisely thanks to state law on pledge reform.
• In January 2020, a man accused of four bank robberies in New York, was released by law of January 1, 2020.
• Just a day in New York happened 4 anti-Semitic attacks. The Anti-Defamation League, an American-Jewish organization opposing anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance towards Jews, offered $ 10 for information about a man who hit another in the back of the head.
• Armed machete the criminal attacked the guests in the house of the rabbi during the celebration of Hanukkah. All of them were taken to hospitals, two in critical condition.