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Senator Seward’s Petition
Urges Bail-Reform Change
ONEONTA – Since “bail reform” took effect Jan. 1, dozens of criminals have been released, only to commit additional crimes.
That has prompted state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, to issue a petition, seeking to marshal support for overturning or amending the law.
“I voted against the so-called reforms and co-sponsor several bills to repeal of amend the law,” he said. “To date, the Senate Democrats have shown no willingness to correct their mistakes.”
Under the new law, he said, there are dozens of serious crimes that no longer require bail, allowing alleged perpetrators to return to their communities with no consequence.
He provided this partial list:
- Criminally negligent homicide
- Second-degree vehicular manslaughter
- Aggravated vehicular manslaughter
- Second-degree manslaughter
- Reckless assault of a child
- First and second-degree harassment (hate crime)
- First and second-degree aggravated harassment
- First and second-degree aggravated harassment (hate crime)
- Promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child
- Possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child
- Promoting a sexual performance by a child
- Possessing a sexual performance by a child
- Animal abuse, animal fighting and animal torture