Community Board 9 hosts discussion on criminal justice reforms

The meeting will occur at Borough Hall in Kew Gardens. Eagle file photo by Christina Carrega.

By Victoria Merlino

Queens Community Board 9 will host a public discussion with Queens Senior Executive Assistant District Attorney James Quinn and Councilmember Robert Holden about the sweeping criminal justice and bail reforms scheduled to go into effect this January.

Queens Community Board 9 represents residents of Kew Gardens, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Richmond Hill. 

Acting Queens District Attorney John Ryan has vocally opposed the reforms, joining Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon to denounce the new state law eliminating cash bail for those with misdemeanors, nonviolent felonies and some violent felonies, and blast new discovery reform measures. 

Quinn has also publicly opposed bail reform measures.

“Bail is designed to ensure that the defendant appears in court when required,” Quinn said at a 2015 City Council hearing about community bail funds. “It means that he has a financial stake in his appearance.”

A community bail fund would “endanger public safety by using city funds to release defendants with long criminal histories back into our communities,” he added, according to the AP.

Queens DA-elect Melinda Katz supports eliminating cash bail and has said that she will not request bail under any circumstances. 

The meeting will occur on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in room 213 at Queens Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens.