Queens Borough Hall To Host Talk On NY's Criminal Justice Reforms

KEW GARDENS, QUEENS — Queens residents can head to Queens Borough Hall Monday for a public discussion about the sweeping criminal justice and bail reforms that take effect in January.

Hosted by Queens Community Board 9's land use and public safety committees, the discussion will be led by Queens Senior Executive Assistant District Attorney James Quinn and City Council Member Bob Holden, both outspoken critics of the reforms the state legislature passed this year.

The policy measures, which were folded into the state budget for the 2020 fiscal year, include an end to the use of cash bail for most individuals charged with misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies and measures to speed up the discovery process and trials.

"They'll have to revisit it after we see some of the nightmare stories," Holden said of the bail reforms during an October town hall at his office, according to the Queens Chronicle.

The public discussion is Monday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Queens Borough Hall.