N.Y. Sheriffs Push Bail Reform Fix to Let Judges Consider Public Safety
What to know
- New York sheriffs lawmakers in Albany to push for passage of the PROTECT Act, legislation that would amend the state’s bail reform laws.
- The proposal would allow judges to consider public safety risk—not just flight risk—when deciding pretrial detention for felony and certain misdemeanor cases.
- Supporters say repeat offenders are cycling through the system without accountability, while opponents have stalled the bill in the Senate Codes Committee.
By Roger Seibert
Source The Oneida Daily Dispatch, N.Y.
ALBANY, NY—Madison County Sheriff and Republican lieutenant governor candidate Todd Hood recently joined sheriffs from across New York State at the Capitol Building in Albany to support the Pretrial Risk Overview for Threat Evaluation, Custody, and Treatment Act, which is proposed New York legislation aimed at amending bail reform laws.
Proponents say it would address rising violent crime and address concerns that repeat offenders are being released.
Hood and others believe passage of the PROTECT Act would change that. If passed, the act would allow judges to consider public safety risk when determining pre-trial detention. It would also authorize judges to hold defendants charged with felonies or Class A misdemeanors if deemed a high risk to reoffend.
“While they were there, I joined them in unison to call for changes to bail laws,” Assemblyman Joe Angelino, D-121, said. “New York is the only state that does not allow a Judge to consider during arraignment if a person poses a danger to the community. Enough is enough.”
Senator Pam Helming, R- Canandaigua, introduced the act, but it has faced stalling in the state Senate Codes Committee.
The PROTECT Act, if passed into law, would empower judges with a standardized tool to evaluate whether a defendant poses a danger to themselves or the community. It would allow judges to order pretrial detention based on threat evaluation, rather than just the risk of flight. The act includes provisions for referring defendants with mental illness to appropriate services.
“This has been overwhelming for law enforcement since bail reform hit,” Hood said. “This is something we can all agree on to do. I hope this legislation passes. This is urgent legislation. Police are dealing with the same suspects time after time. arrest, release, repeat again and again.”
Hood spoke about how his family has been impacted by state bail reform laws.
“Both of my sons are police officers,” he said. “One was before bail reform, one came in after. The one who saw the difference in the middle is just like me. This is overwhelming to our police. Our police are stressed, they’re overworked, and the public is terrified and in danger. When someone harms residents, and criminals are not held accountable and then released right back out, these criminals are emboldened and are now running wild.”
Hood said those supporting bail reform have skewed data to promote their agenda.
“I don’t care what the statistics you’ve heard; crime is up since 2019,” he said. “It’s up 26 percent in New York State. That’s from DCJS. Those are the numbers: a 26 percent crime increase from 2019 until now.”
Passing the PROTECT would allow all levels of law enforcement to do their jobs, Hood said.
“We need to back our police officers and give elected judges the ability to put dangerous people in jail and protect New Yorkers from dangerous criminals,” he said. “That is why they were elected by the people, to do so.”
Hood appealed to the state legislature to support law enforcement and pass the PROTECT Act.
“We’re urging you to implement legislation, the PROTECT Act, to keep New York safe again,” he continued. “It’s that simple. Hopefully, we can all get on board with this.”
Hood, a 1987 graduate of Oneida High School, served as Chairman of the National Sheriffs’ Association School Safety Committee, a Special Weapons And Tactics supervisor with the Syracuse Police Department, and a Deputy U.S. Marshal with the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.
This past February, Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman picked Hood as his running mate for the 2026 election. During their statewide campaign Hood said he’s heard from residents about the impacts of bail reform.
“I’ve been across New York State in the past two months, more than I’ve ever been in my life, and the resounding thing is that people are fed up with crime in New York State,” he said. “They want a change, and they want it now.”
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