Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) touted a historic state investment and several key measures advanced during the end of the legislative session that will improve public safety for all New Yorkers.
“With violent crime on the rise and more of our neighbors feeling unsafe, lawmakers have an obligation–a duty–to mount an all-hands-on-deck offensive to curb violence in our neighborhoods,” said Senator Skoufis. “I’ve been at the forefront of these changes on behalf of my Hudson Valley constituents.”
This week, over $18 million in funding (a nearly $15 million increase over last year’s investment) was awarded to law enforcement agencies statewide that participate in New York’s GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative) program, including just shy of $1 million to Orange County and the Cities of Newburgh and Middletown. The County District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and local Police Departments will share $858,513 in support of evidence-based strategies that reduce shootings and save lives.
“We must provide law enforcement with the tools and resources they need to do their jobs, period,” added Senator Skoufis. “I’ve long fought to boost funding for our emergency service departments, and this nearly-million-dollar infusion will go a long way toward helping the folks on the ground address community violence in real time.”
In the wake of the senseless and heartbreaking Buffalo and Uvalde tragedies, the Legislature moved quickly last week to pass Senator Skoufis’ bill to expand New York’s ‘red flag’ law, allowing healthcare and mental healthcare professionals to file a court order when their patient is a clear risk to themselves or others. Red flag laws are shown to be effective at keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals.
In April, the Senator announced key fixes to the bail reform laws of 2019 for which he had long fought and successfully championed in this year’s adopted budget, including:
- Repeat petit larceny offenses will now trigger bail-eligibility to ensure alleged criminals are no longer able to steal unabated;
- A loophole was closed to ensure repeat offenses that occur in between a defendant’s arrest and their arraignment are bail-eligible;
- Judges may now consider a charge’s dangerousness and a defendant’s criminal history when determining the “least restrictive” means to reasonably ensure a return to court;
- Hate crimes and possession of a firearm on school grounds will be newly arrest-eligible;
- A major felony will be triggered once an individual trafficks three guns – down from ten;
- Defacing a firearm or selling one to a minor will be newly bail-eligible;
- Judges will have new discretion to mandate treatment for defendants suffering from mental illness, both ensuring those individuals get the care they need while simultaneously keeping our communities safe.
Middletown Chief of Police John Ewanciw applauded the Senator’s bail reform fixes in April: “I am grateful to Senator Skoufis for doing right by the Hudson Valley. His work will mean fewer criminals on the street, period. These reforms will allow my team and me to better protect our community.”
“Make no mistake,” said Senator Skoufis, “I’ll do what’s needed to keep our communities safe. From ‘red flag’ expansion to common-sense fixes to bail reform laws, lawmakers must act and never lose sight of what’s most important: the well-being of everyday New Yorkers. I won’t back down when it comes to addressing violence, no matter who’s on the other side of the ring.”
In March, New York State also announced a new collaboration between – and funding for – the Office of Mental Health and the State Education Department to improve mental health/trauma services offered in schools. By improving our educational environments and offering safe spaces for students to receive needed support, officials are optimistic that escalating tensions in our communities will dissipate.
Senator Skoufis has long been a supporter of the SNUG gun violence prevention program, administered in Orange County by RECAP. Skoufis first brought the program to Newburgh in 2019 and has secured between $200,000 and $250,000 each year in subsequent budgets to keep the program running; he also secured $50,000 for Poughkeepsie’s SNUG program this year. In 2021, he secured a combined $50,000 for violence prevention programming for Fearless! and RECAP (the organization that administers SNUG in Newburgh). This year, he also secured $75,000 for the City of Middletown to create a new community caseworker position within its police department, $50,000 for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and $60,000 for the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department. He has also participated in local gun buyback programs, another proven tool in the fight against community violence.