Everyone accused of a crime is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. But in New York, because of our laws and the way they are carried out, untold numbers of New Yorkers are denied this basic right.
Each year, tens of thousands of New Yorkers are faced with only two options when they’re arrested: plead guilty to a crime or stay locked up in jail. People who have not been convicted of a crime sit in jail often just because they can’t afford to pay their way out.
Then, our state’s speedy trial law drags out their case. The constitution guarantees a right to a speedy trial, but waiting for your trial in New York—even for a low-level offense—can take years.
And when it comes time to fight their case in court, New Yorkers don’t get a fair chance. No one should plead guilty without knowing why they’re accused of a crime, but that is what is happening right now because of New York’s flawed discovery law.
Real bail reform must reduce the number of New Yorkers in jail, and prevent race and wealth from determining whether a person spends time in jail.
Our speedy trial law must be fixed so that every person accused of a crime gets a firm trial date – a date they can rely on that will not be dictated by prosecutors or by a crowded court calendar.
And we need open, early, and automatic discovery so that defendants know the case against them.
I’m counting on you to fight for fairness in the courts.
