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Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that changes to New York's discovery laws will be included in the new state budget. On Monday (April 14), she released three reports emphasizing the need for these changes to protect crime victims, enhance state safety, and hold offenders accountable. Hochul argues that dismissing criminal cases over minor paperwork issues prevents justice from being served.
The reports, compiled by the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, involved input from over 1,400 individuals, including survivors, family members, and law enforcement. They highlight a significant rise in case dismissals since the 2019 discovery reforms, with 94% of domestic violence cases in New York City dismissed in 2023, a 26% increase since the reforms were enacted.
Hochul's proposal aims to streamline the discovery process, ensuring procedural fairness and reducing pretrial incarceration times while safeguarding sensitive information. The changes have gained bipartisan support from district attorneys and advocates. However, the budget agreement has been delayed by two weeks due to policy disputes.
Governor Hochul stated, "Throwing out entire criminal cases over minor paperwork issues prevents justice from being served." She emphasized the need to fix the flaws in the discovery reforms to prevent abusers from exploiting the system.
Despite ongoing negotiations, Hochul remains firm in her stance, refusing to sign a budget that lacks the proposed public safety measures. She believes a resolution is near and is committed to ensuring justice for victims.