(Albany, N.Y.) — Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick joined Senator Pam Helming and New York State Senate Republicans, along with Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione, and Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter to call for the passage of S.2282A, the Pretrial Risk Overview for Threat Evaluation, Custody, and Treatment (PROTECT) Act, which is cosponsored by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. Crafted in collaboration with law enforcement, the legislation would require judges to use a standardized risk assessment tool when determining whether individuals should be held pretrial or released, ensuring decisions better account for potential threats to public safety.

“New York remains the only state in the nation where judges are prohibited from considering a defendant’s dangerousness when making bail determinations. That failure has allowed repeat and high-risk offenders to cycle back into our communities, putting public safety at risk. The PROTECT Act offers a commonsense fix, restoring judicial discretion, strengthening accountability, and giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep dangerous individuals off our streets. It is a necessary step toward making our communities safer,” said Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

The PROTECT Act prioritizes public safety by allowing courts to detain individuals who pose a genuine risk, while ensuring no one is held solely because they cannot afford bail.

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