Enacts the "pretrial risk overview for threat evaluation, custody, and treatment (PROTECT) Act"; repealer

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Republican21

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Pamela Helming says this is needed

In recent years, New York State has seen an increase in crime and its residents continue to report that improving public safety should be a top priority for elected officials. As just one example, data from the Rochester Police Department shows a ninety percent increase in the aver- age number of murders committed each year between 2020 and 2024 compared to the period between 2011 and 2019. Similarly, prohibited use of a weapon increased by two-hundred and fifty-eight percent and the average number of motor vehicle thefts increased by two-hundred and six percent. With figures like these, it is no wonder why New Yorkers continue to rank improving public safety as a top priority for their elected offi- cials. According to a December 2024 Siena poll, more than one in three New Yorkers rank crime as one of their top two priorities that legisla- tors and the Governor should address. More than one in ten New Yorkers rank it as their highest priority. In response to these startling statistics and the public's clear desire for meaningful reform, the legislature must take steps to keep our communities safe and address the issue of repeat offenders. This legislation, developed in partnership with local law enforcement, would do just that by creating a risk assessment instrument which courts will utilize to make decisions regarding remand. This risk assessment instrument will provide an objective method for determining the threat posed by an individual to themselves and the community and prevent dangerous individuals from being released back into the community pend- ing trial. This legislation also takes meaningful steps to address the issue of repeat offenders by requiring that when an individual is arrested on a new felony or class A misdemeanor offense during pretrial release, they are kept in custody pending trial unless a judge determines that their risk to reoffend has been adequately mitigated. It is also clear that many of the issues we have seen regarding crime and public safety are a result of the growing mental health crisis in our state. To address these root causes, we must ensure that individuals suffering mental illness have access to appropriate treatment. Accord- ingly, this legislation makes clear that no provisions of this act prohibit a judge from using existing statute to direct that individuals presenting an immediate risk of serious harm to themselves or others be transported to a hospital for a psychiatric assessment and appropriate treatment.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.