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STATEMENT ON DISCOVERY REFORM AND PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace released the following statement on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed reforms to New York’s discovery laws and other proposals designed to strengthen public safety:
“I welcome Gov. Hochul’s latest proposals to address the shortcomings in our discovery laws, and I look forward to working with our legislative partners to codify these needed changes. New York’s criminal discovery rubric must advance the interests of justice without penalizing good-faith efforts by prosecutors to promote compliance.
“The current discovery process places unnecessary burdens on prosecutors that incentivize delays. These delays routinely lead to unwarranted case dismissals, despite the due diligence of front-line prosecutors. As the latest statistics show, judges across New York State’s court system are reporting that discovery requirements have resulted in increased case dismissals. This trend will almost certainly continue without meaningful efforts to address the unintended consequences of discovery reform.
“It is my hope that our executive and legislative partners will continue to pursue further amendments to discovery reform that promote balance and fairness between prosecutors and defense attorneys.
“In addition to these important changes, I further support and endorse the recently announced proposals to expand resources for victims of sex crimes and bolster the prosecution of sex trafficking offenders and drug-impaired drivers.”