Nassau Standard

Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick has voiced her opposition to recent decisions by the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee in Albany, New York. The Committee's advancement of two bills has drawn sharp criticism from Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, who believes these measures jeopardize public safety and weaken sentencing laws.

The first contested bill, S.159, proposed by Senator Salazar, aims to alter the parole process. This bill introduces a default presumption that an inmate should be released unless the Board of Parole proves that they still pose an “unreasonable risk” to public safety. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick suggests this could significantly increase the likelihood of parole approvals for dangerous offenders.

The second piece of legislation, S.342, introduced by Senator Cooney, seeks to broaden the scope of eligibility for merit time credits. This would include individuals convicted of severe offenses, permitting them to cut their sentences by up to half. According to Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, the proposal would also make it highly challenging to revoke these credits, despite any misconduct by inmates during their incarceration.

“We’ve already seen the tragic consequences of soft-on-crime policies that tie judges’ hands and place unreasonable burdens on prosecutors,” stated Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. She expressed concern that repeat violent offenders are being freed while victims are left to suffer, criticizing the Senate Majority for upholding such policies.

“These radical proposals are not just misguided—they’re an insult to every New Yorker who has been traumatized by crime,” she added. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick advocated for reforms that prioritize victim protection and law enforcement support, rather than what she sees as leniency toward criminals.

The Senator calls upon the Legislative Majorities to halt efforts on these bills, focusing instead on bolstering public safety and standing with victims.