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New York Bail Law Gets More Stringent in State Budget Deal

The agreement, which faced fierce opposition from reform advocates, will likely increase the population of people in jail before their trials. 

New York City Police Department officers arrest demonstrators during an eviction protest on Oct. 1, 2020. New York bail reform kept more people out of jail before their court dates. But debate over the law’s impact on crime rates held up the state budget. 

New York City Police Department officers arrest demonstrators during an eviction protest on Oct. 1, 2020. New York bail reform kept more people out of jail before their court dates. But debate over the law’s impact on crime rates held up the state budget. 

Photographer: Paul Frangipane/Bloomberg

New York is poised to alter its bail laws as part of a $220 billion budget agreement, despite opposition from leading lawmakers and criminal justice reform advocates that led to delays in passing an on-time budget. 

Fierce debate over the issue pushed lawmakers past an April 1 deadline and complicated Governor Kathy Hochul’s first and only crack at budget talks ahead of a June primary and potential November election bid.