The New York Police Department blamed the state’s new bail reform laws for the crime spike in the city this year.
The police force for the largest city in the country said 482 people who were cut loose after being arrested in 2020 reoffended. Those reoffenders were responsible for 846 new crimes, and 299 of those crimes were considered “major” felonies, including one murder, according to NYPD statistics.
All of the 482 suspects released could have been put in jail before the new laws were enacted on Jan. 1.
“Criminal justice reforms serve as a significant reason New York City has seen this uptick in crime,” the NYPD said in a press release.
“Each number presents a victim,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea in a statement. “We will continue to work hand-in-hand with New Yorkers and our law enforcement partners to zero in on the drivers of crime and deliver justice for the victims.”
Major crimes in February were up 22.5% compared to 2019, and the city was victimized by a 7.1% increase in shootings, according to Fox 5 New York. Robbery, assault, burglary, and grand larceny all increased.
To mitigate the rise in crime, the NYPD said it will move officers from administrative roles to street patrol and deploy officers to targeted areas that have seen an uptick in crime.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents New York’s 14th Congressional District in parts of the Bronx and Queens, said a few weeks ago that people should “slow down” and give the bail reforms time before passing judgment.
New York City’s bail reform laws went into effect at the start of the year, allowing suspects of more than 400 offenses deemed nonviolent to walk free without paying any money to ensure they make it to their assigned court date.
A recent poll showed that 59% of New Yorkers believe eliminating bail for these crimes is detrimental to the state.
