Perpetrators of violent hate crimes must not be allowed to roam freely. Tell NY to support Assemblyman Eichenstein’s proposed legislation to let judges require bail for hate crime offenders, instead of just putting them back on the street.
A growing number of critics are blaming New York State’s new “bail reform” legislation for creating a loophole that gives repeat offenders the chance to perpetrate more anti-Semitic hate crimes.
A concern, especially amid the spate of attacks against Orthodox Jews, is that those who commit anti-Semitic hate crimes will be returned to the streets without posting a cash bond, putting the public at risk.
A number of recent crimes have been committed by those released immediately under the new law who weren’t required to post bail.
A case underlining the hazards of the new legislation unfolded just before the end of December, when for the second time in three days, a woman in Brooklyn was freed without bail on a charge of assaulting a stranger on the street.
The woman was identified as 30-year-old Tiffany Harris. On December 27, she was accused of carrying out “a hate crime assault” against three Jewish women outside Chabad Lubavitch headquarters in the Crown Heights neighborhood. On the 29th, she was arrested for allegedly attacking a 35-year-old woman in Prospect Heights for no apparent reason.
The judge released Harris twice without bail. Harris was simply warned not to be arrested again while the matter is pending in court, said the Daily News.
Numerous state leaders have called for changes to the law, including Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who signed the new legislation into law.
NY State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein has proposed new legislation to include hate crimes as qualifying offenses for which a judge will have discretion to set bail, as opposed to simply releasing offenders pending trial with requiring them to post bond.
“I fear that the trend of criminals who commit heinous, violent crimes being released onto the streets without bail could become the new normal in New York, unless we rectify the law to consider perpetrators of hate crimes in a separate category,” he told Hamodia.
Considering the shocking increase in violent anti-Semitic crime in New York, Eichenstein’s effort deserves our support.
Anti-Semitic attacks are increasing. Demand that NY amend the bail law!
Tell the New York State Assembly members to amend the legislation by clicking here.
Tell New York Governor Cuomo to take action on anti-Semitism in his state by clicking here.