(Pictured L to R: SC Executive Ed Romaine, NYS Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, NYS Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, N-SSBA Executive Director Bob Vecchio, NYS Senator Dean Murray, SC District Attorney Raymond Tierney, SC Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, SC Law Enforcement representatives.)

(Mastic Beach, NY) – On Wednesday, New York State Senator Dean Murray (R, C - East Patchogue), alongside New York State Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, NYS Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, Suffolk County PBA 1st Vice President John Hnat, Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association Executive Director Bob Vecchio, and representatives from Suffolk County Law Enforcement held a press conference introducing bail reform legislation (S.10679) to help better protect children against crime.

As a result of a crime that sent a dozen Middle School students to the emergency room back in March 2025, Senator Murray and his colleagues in the state legislature have introduced this bill, which is aimed at protecting some of the most vulnerable crime victims... children... from repeat offenders.

Minors are among the most at risk of becoming victims of crime. Criminal conduct that causes physical injury, psychological harm, or emotional damage can have serious effects that last a lifetime. This legislation provides more authority to the courts by making any crime in which the defendant is alleged to have caused physical, psychological, or emotional harm to a minor a qualifying offense for purposes of New York's bail laws.    

“This bill is about protecting our kids and that shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Judges need to have the ability to keep repeat offenders or those who pose a danger to society off the streets, especially in cases where children are the victims. There’s no reason to automatically put suspects back on the streets where children and others can be victimized over and over again,” said NYS Senator Dean Murray, 3rd Senate District.

“New York’s laws should never tie a judge’s hands when a child has been physically, psychologically, or emotionally harmed,” said NYS Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, 3rd Assembly District and co-sponsor of the bill. “Senator Murray’s legislation restores common sense discretion to the courts by making these serious crimes bail-eligible while still allowing judges to consider the facts of each individual case. I am proud to carry this effort in the Assembly and stand with Senator Murray to make sure our justice system puts the safety and well-being of children first.” 

“If someone puts our children at risk by selling drugs they must pay the price for their decisions. Thank you, Senator Murray, for taking this step with this important legislation, and I urge every lawmaker to put politics aside and protect the future generations of this state,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.

“The fact that under New York’s bail laws my prosecutors cannot ask for bail on a defendant targeting kids with drugs and sending a dozen middle schoolers to the hospital is unconscionable,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. “Prosecutors must have the ability to hold such defendants in custody before they harm another child. Our children deserve nothing less than a justice system that prevents repeat offenders from getting multiple chances to harm them. I thank Senator Dean Murray for his leadership trying to fix our ridiculous bail laws in Albany.” 

“When a defendant is accused of a serious crime against a child, the courts should have the ability to fully consider the circumstances of the case and the potential risk to the community when determining whether that individual should be released before trial,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. “Judges should not be denied discretion when public safety is at stake and I commend Senator Murray for taking an important step to making this meaningful change to the law.” 

“The Suffolk County PBA commends Senator Dean Murray for advancing legislation that gives our courts the discretion to consider bail when a child has been a victim of a crime. Under current law, judges are too often denied that authority, leaving those accused of victimizing our most vulnerable back on the street before a child has begun to recover,” said 1st Vice President John Hnat, Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association in a formal statement of support. “But let us be clear: this bill is a first step, not a solution. For years, Albany's approach to bail reform has left law enforcement, victims, and communities to absorb the consequences of a system that too frequently prioritizes the offender over the victim. Senator Murray’s bill corrects one of those injustices. What New York still needs is a comprehensive, honest re-examination of these laws, one that restores judicial discretion and public safety as guiding principles. We thank Senator Murray for his leadership and urge the Legislature to treat this measure as the beginning of that overdue work.”

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