NYPD Chief Calls for Plugging ‘Loopholes’ in Reform Laws

Repeat offenders have “taken advantage” of the sweeping criminal justice reforms enacted in New York State in 2020, writes New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell in an op-ed in the New York Daily News.

Sewell says the few criminals exploit the reforms meant for first-time, low-level offenders, allowing repeat offenders back on the streets. She asks for the loophole to be closed.

Stepping into a controversial political debate over bail reforms and other reform measures enacted  by the New York State Assembly, Sewell writes that this year, according to police data, 3,120 people were arrested with guns in New York City, the most since 1995.

She said the data shows approximately 80 percent are back on the streets. In addition, she says over 500 individuals had open felony cases upon arrest.

Additionally, 187 of those arrested with a gun this year also had an open gun case. Just under half are back out on the street, Sewell says.

Under pressure from police and law-and-order legislators, New York’s bail reform laws have already been amended. Criminologists counter that there is no evidence showing limiting cash bail for non-violent offenses has led to an increase in crime.

A recent study of bail reforms in Harris County, Texas  suggested that  recidivism dropped since the reforms were enacted.

But according to Sewell, property crimes are a similar issue.

She wrote that his year, 24 percent of arrested burglars have been rearrested for another felony within 60 days, with other forms of thefts seeing similar rates.

For example, Sewell said, of the 190 robbers with three or more on their record, 64 percent are no longer in custody, 24 percent of whom were previously convicted for felonies.

According to Sewell, through the first eight months of 2022, arrests citywide are up 23% from last year’s period. Felony arrests have increased in every category, up more than 27 percent overall.

In addition, gun arrests are now at a 26-year high.

She blames the criminal justice reforms, which she says allow the repeat offenders back on the streets.

Some activists and New Yorkers have blamed Mayor Adams’ approach to crime. Like bringing back some broken windows elements by arresting people for low-level offenses like jumping the subway leading to a spike in crime.

However, Sewell says the community needs to work together on the issue. A significant step toward reducing recidivism is erasing the loophole caused by some criminal justice reforms in the state, she says.

“We must stem rampant recidivism,” she writes. “We must fight the very real perception among criminals that no consequences exist for their crime.”