Senator Breslin voted for the Child Victims Act, Raise the Age, bail reform, speedy trial reform, and discovery reform. These bills have made New York State’s criminal justice system more equitable.

 

To continue to work towards a fair and equal justice system, Senator Breslin has:

• Cosponsored the legislation that ends solitary confinement in prisons

• Cosponsored the legislation that better assists people on parole such as allowing people who are over 55 and have served over 15 years in prison to be considered for parole

• Advocated for increased access to legal representation and vote to expand the student loan forgiveness program for indigent legal service attorneys

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In June of 2020, the Senate Democrats passed a package of bills addressing police reform. These reforms have since been signed into law. Senator Breslin voted for and co-sponsored:

• The repeal of section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law, allowing for police disciplinary records to be viewed by the public.

• The creation of an Office of Special Investigation, under the Attorney General, to investigate any deaths caused by a police officer or peace officer.

• A bill ensuring that a person not under arrest or in the custody of police has the right to record police activity.

• An amendment to Civil Rights Law ensuring individuals have the right to medical and mental health services while in Police custody.

• The "Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act" which designates the crime of aggravated strangulation a Class - C Felony and prohibits the use of chokeholds by law enforcement.

• A requirement that law enforcement officers, on or off-duty, report the discharge of their weapon within six hours if an individual could have been struck.

• The establishment of the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office to study and make recommendations to local law enforcement agencies to increase the public's confidence in law enforcement.

• The Police Statistics and Transparency Act.