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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Recidivism problems and calls for criminal justice reform
0:20:47
ยท
3 min
Commissioner Tisch highlights the issue of recidivism in New York City and calls for reforms to address the problem of repeat offenders.
- Significant increases in individuals arrested three or more times for the same crime in a year
- Criticism of changes to New York State laws enacted in 2020, described as creating a 'revolving door' for offenders
- Call for specific changes to discovery law to address unintended consequences
- Emphasis on the need to reevaluate policies that contribute to repeat offenses, particularly in cases of shoplifting and other misdemeanors
Jessica Tisch
0:20:47
In New York City it is clear that we do not have a surging crime problem, but we do have a surging recidivism problem.
0:20:54
Compared to 2018, '20 '20 '4 saw an unacceptable rise in the number of individuals arrested three or more times for the same crime in the same year.
0:21:04
The increase was 61% for burglary, 64% for shoplifting, 71% for grand larceny, 83% for robbery and 119% for auto theft.
0:21:14
And when we look at felony assault, an index crime that was up in 2024, the increase was a staggering 147%.
0:21:24
So why is this happening?
0:21:26
Well among the reasons are changes to New York State laws enacted in 2020 that rendered our criminal justice system a high speed revolving door putting violent repeat offenders back on our streets over and over again.
0:21:38
As the mayor and I have said, your cops are out there doing their jobs.
0:21:43
And in 2024 they made the most felony arrests in twenty six years.
0:21:48
But before they can even finish the paperwork, the person they arrested is back out on the street immediately returning to the neighborhood and the people that they just victimized.
0:21:58
It's demoralizing, it's unsustainable and it defies common sense.
0:22:03
And that's exactly the message that I carried to Albany last month specifically as it relates to changes to the discovery law.
0:22:10
Ultimately we must put the focus back on crime victims.
0:22:14
I've been working closely with the mayor on this as well as the governor and our five DAs.
0:22:18
And last month I met with legislators in our state capital to send them a direct message.
0:22:22
We must do better.
0:22:24
We have been very clear on the specific changes that need to be made to the discovery law and it is also important to know that the changes that we have put forward in no way retreat from the underlying spirit of the criminal justice reforms of 2020 including the notion that those accused deserve to see all the available relevant evidence against them and they should not be surprised by anything at the eleventh hour.
0:22:47
But the 2020 reforms had unintended consequences that put the safety of New Yorkers at risk and these unintended consequences have to be addressed.
0:22:56
Changing the criminal justice laws alone while necessary is insufficient.
0:23:01
Too often our prosecutorial partners decline cases or effectively dismiss cases through adjournments and contemplation of dismissal or ACDs.
0:23:09
I have met individually with many of our DAs on this issue and those productive discussions will continue so that we can forge a safer path forward.
0:23:18
There is always room for improvement.
0:23:20
Our DAs are our most important partners and our work together undoubtedly makes our city safer.
0:23:25
But any blanket policy that makes the revolving door spin faster must be reevaluated and we have seen the effect of these policies for a while now.
0:23:33
Toothpaste and laundry detergent locked up in cages on pharmacy shelves.
0:23:37
Mom and pop stores closing because they cannot recover from shoplifting losses.
0:23:42
People brazenly stealing from our retailers, really taking their time with it and calmly walking out of the store without a care in the world.
0:23:50
All of this is at least in part due to the removal of serious consequences for certain misdemeanors.
0:23:57
I am channeling the voice of virtually every NYPD cop and everyday New Yorkers when I say enough is enough.