A group of New York Democrat lawmakers is advocating for reforms to evidence laws criticized for being 'pro-criminal.' Led by Rep. Dan Goldman, they argue that current discovery mandates lead to the dismissal of thousands of criminal cases without consideration of their merits. They support Governor Hochul's proposal, which includes provisions requiring defendants to prove they were harmed by missing evidence, limiting challenges to a 35-day period, and narrowing the discovery standard to only materials directly relevant to charges. This movement also reflects bipartisan concern about balancing defendants' rights with public safety.
Rep. Dan Goldman emphasizes the need for reform in New York's evidence laws, stating that current mandates undermine public safety and create dismissals of serious criminal cases.
The rigid standard of evidence discovery legislation is accused of allowing thousands of criminal cases to be dismissed annually without considering the merits of the original charges.
Lawmakers advocate for adjustments to evidence laws, urging that defendants should demonstrate 'prejudice' before cases are dismissed to improve victim protection and public safety.
Bipartisan support grows for the proposed changes as lawmakers highlight the consequences of overly broad and inflexible evidence laws that favor criminals over victims.
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