Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) recently urged Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to “reconsider” changes within the Criminal Justice Reform Act that will downgrade dozens of quality-of life offenses to fines.

The legislation, consisting of eight bills, will reduce several criminal offenses including, possession of an open alcoholic beverage, public urination and after-dusk loitering in public parks to violations penalized with a ticket. Those who cannot pay the fine will then be assigned to community service.

“We send the wrong message when elected officials pass legislation that diminishes the punishment for certain criminal violations,” said an outraged Assemblyman Hikind. “While certain violations don’t warrant an arrest, simply issuing a ticket for public urination is ridiculous. By minimizing these types of crimes, we are playing with fire.”

The Criminal Justice Reform Act will establish a system where repeat offenders will be penalized with escalating fines. City lawmakers acknowledged that repeated offenders could be dealt with through “criminal reinforcement,” however details on harsher punishment for these non-criminal violations are still being worked out.

“Certain violations are more egregious than others; Rather than altering the punishment for those offenses, let’s allow the world’s greatest police force to do their job,” Hikind suggested.

Advocates of the legislation pointed out the disproportionate arrests and charges brought up on nonwhites for violations that often leave minorities with damaging criminal records.

“It is obvious to all conscientious people that the criminal justice system has had a disproportionately negative effect on black, brown and poor communities,” Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams said. “The unequal enforcement of law and practices that happen in communities of color has had lasting intergenerational effects on families and neighborhoods, systematically destroying the futures of so many.”

“This legislation will prove to be counter-productive in terms of lowering our crime rate, regardless of the criminal’s religion, race or creed because you provide perpetrators with an outlet to be slapped on the wrist with a fine,” Hikind said.

(YWN Desk – NYC)