The statewide crime wave has intensified calls for passage of the PROTECT Act, legislation designed to give judges a standardized risk assessment tool to determine whether dangerous offenders should be held pretrial or released. Framed as a direct response to violent repeat-offender cases emerging under New York’s cashless bail law, the proposal, co-sponsored by local state senators, aims to restore judicial authority in deciding when a defendant poses a clear threat to public safety.
Members of the Senate Republican Conference appeared at a Hauppauge rally alongside County Executive Ed Romaine, District Attorney Ray Tierney, Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo, and community leaders to voice support for the Pretrial Risk Overview for Threat Evaluation, Custody and Treatment bill.
“This legislation grew out of tragedy—too many people losing their lives and too many people afraid in their own neighborhoods,” said Senator Dean Murray. Calling the bill a balanced and essential safeguard, Murray added, “It is time to put public safety first and pass this bill.”
County Executive Romaine said the measure aligns with broader efforts to confront rising disorder. “Our state Senate representatives are fighting for us in Albany, working to keep New York safer and more affordable,” he said. “This legislation will play a key role in that mission.”
District Attorney Tierney underscored New York’s unusual position as the only state that prohibits judges from weighing a defendant’s threat to the public when setting bail. “Inexplicably, New York is the only state that turns a blind eye to dangerousness,” he said, adding that the PROTECT Act provides “an intuitive, streamlined risk assessment that protects the rights of both victims and the accused.”
Suffolk Senators Mario Mattera, Anthony Palumbo, and Alexis Weik also voiced support for the bill.
Supporting the bill in the Assembly, 3rd District Rep. Joseph DeStefano said the cashless bail system put into place by Democrats has proven to be a grave public threat. “This is why you see criminals with rap sheets as long as your arm put back on the street to commit more violent crimes,” he said.