On March 17, the New York Post published Governor Hochul's 10-point "public safety package" that includes changes to the bail law, discovery reform, and Raise the Age that would subject more minors to adult criminal court. Justice advocates fought long and hard for these reforms. The facts are clear: Bail reform is working and prevents mass incarceration through pretrial detention, which disproportionately impacts communities of color and the working class.

Though crime increased during the pandemic—including in states that did not adopt bail reform—researchers point to a lack of connection with the 2019 bail reform law. In a recent op-ed, Governor Hochul acknowledges blaming bail reform "isn't fair and isn't supported by data." Yet, she doubles down on her push to roll back crucial reforms that will amplify wealth-based incarceration and deepen severe racial disparities within the criminal legal system.

The Partnership for the Public Good will join Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, NYCLU, #HALTsolitary Campaign, and others on Monday, March 28 at 10 a.m. via Zoom for a virtual press conference ahead of New York State's April 1 budget deadline in opposition to Governor Hochul's proposed reform rollbacks. We will also discuss misconceptions about the 2019 bail law, including vested powers officers, prosecutors, and judges underutilize. New York's incarceration rate is higher than Canada and the United Kingdom combined. Governor Hochul and lawmakers can learn from the harm and violence experienced during the pandemic by breaking the cycle with stronger investments in communities, not cages.