BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 17, 2015
ATTENDANCE:
PRESENT:
S. AVERY P. BLAKE B. CHANCEY
K. GURL E. MCCLURE T. MISKEL
R. RIGOLLI M. SILVERMAN U. ZIMMERMAN
EXCUSED:
J. ARMER M. MURPHY R. SLOANE
J. SMITH
ABSENT:
D. DECOSTANZO D. GORDON D. SCHNEIDER
J. THOMPSON
***MINUTES***
Presentation and review of New York State Senate bill S.5988 known as Kalief's Law, an act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to time limits for a speedy trial.
Representing Daniel Squadron’s office (District 26), Joseph Giannetto presented bill S.5988, known as Kalief’s Law. ● Reforms New York State criminal procedure law in relation to time limits set for a speedy trial in 1972. ○ Violation, misdemeanor, and felony charges must go to trial within 30, 60, and 90 days respectively. ○ In New York City defendants average 594 days before going to trial. ● Current NYS statute only requires that a prosecutor be “ready” to go to trial to stop the time limit countdown. ○ This “Ready Rule” allows prosecutors to escape the time limits set by the speedy trial law using various technicalities. ● This bill amends the speedy trial law to address trial delays. ○ Prosecutors must prove they are actually ready to go to trial. ○ If the court grants adjournment, the court shall set the next court date and decide the on number of days to be counted toward the time limit. ● The bill is named in honor of Kalief Browder, who committed suicide after he was arrested at age 16 and spent three years in pre-trial detention.
Committee questions and comments in response to the presentation: ● Would like to see the similar speedy trial requirements added to Family Court Procedure. ● Enforcing the time limit more strictly may not address the root of the problem, a lack of resources in the prosecutor's office and the courts, and the number of people arrested awaiting trial. ○ The Senator’s office is working to address the issue from multiple angles. ● Will the bill have support in Albany? ○ It has the support of the Democratic and Independent Democratic Caucuses but not the Republican Caucus. Cannot guarantee it will go to session. ● Is the trial delay problem particular to NYC? ○ It is exacerbated in urban areas with larger caseloads.
● The Defense is often the side seeking adjournment and delays as well. The court should have to justify
adjournments.
● Will the bill have adverse effects in small towns? ○ Since they do not suffer the same overload it should not affect them. ● Does the bill have the support of Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson? ○ DA Thompson’s office has seen the bill, but has not issued a statement. ● Does the bill have the support of New York City Council? ○ Squadron’s office is in discussion with NYC Council now. Mayor De Blasio’s program “Justice Reboot” was launched to address the cases sitting longest. ● Will this preliminary bill change drastically by the time it is in session? ○ This is pending discussion in the senate.
Eric McClure introduced a motion in support of the bill as presented, which was duly seconded, and urges the New York State Senate to bring it to session.
MOTION APPROVED: UNANIMOUSLY
Presentation and discussion with representative for the American Red Cross on Restoring Family Links, a program which has the capacity to locate and re-establish communication between direct family members who have lost touch across international borders due to natural disasters, armed conflict, or changing political conditions.
Marie-Celine Vandenbempt from the American Red Cross presented the organization’s Restoring Family Links program. ● The program exists to connect people in the United States with family members who they have lost contact with abroad. ○ The program is worldwide, leveraging the Red Cross’s global network. ○ The service is free. ○ The inquiry is confidential. ○ The program is blind to your legal immigration status and will keep personal information confidential. ○ The program also traces holocaust and war victims if someone is seeking information on a past family member. ● The Red Cross is seeking ambassadors for the program, contact marie.vandenbempt@redcross.org (212)- 875-2253
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned.
The minutes were submitted by Bahij Chancey.