Griffo Expresses Concerns With Criminal Justice Reforms

Senator Joseph Griffo was joined by local law enforcement officials on Friday to express concerns over criminal justice reforms included in the new state budget.

Griffo says the reforms include measures that will tie the hands of the prosecutors and law enforcement officials and make it harder for police officers to do their jobs.

He says the misguided plan, which should be called the "Criminal's Bill of Rights", includes:

• Changes that will let up to 90 percent of individuals arrested for a crime walk free and who will instead receive an appearance ticket from the office.
• An end to cashless bail for everything shy of the most severe violent felonies.
• The reduction of sentences for illegal immigrants who commit crimes for the sole purpose of helping them evade deportation.
• Discovery "reform" that will weaken prosecutorial authority and has the potential to jeopardize witnesses and their safety.
• Weakening the authority of police officers by subjecting them to unnecessary and time-consuming review that could cause officers to second-guess themselves, which could put their safety at risk.
• The closure of three prisons.
• A measure limiting the public release of mugshots, a clear threat to public safety and a blow to openness, transparency and the public's right to know.

Griffo was joined by Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol, Undersheriff Joseph Lisi, Lewis County Sheriff Michael Carpinelli and Oneida County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Coluzza