NY Post
Queens District Attorney-elect Melinda Katz announced Tuesday she will go softer on criminal defendants when she takes over as the borough’s chief prosecutor on Jan. 1.
Katz said she will make it easier for criminal defendants to have their cases heard by a grand jury within five days of an arrest, without losing their right to plea bargain.
The former borough president said defendants have a legal right to have a grand jury hearing within five days. But the current policy of the Queens DA’s office refuses to bargain with a defendant who does not wave his right to the five-day grand jury rule.
“Beginning with cases newly arraigned on January 1, 2020, the DA’s staff will at all times be open to discussions aimed at resolving cases and will not withhold plea offers from persons who choose to exercise this statutory right,” a press statement put out by Katz’s transition team said.
Likewise, Katz said the existing policy of refusing to engage in plea discussions with defendants who’ve been indicted by a grand jury “will also be abandoned.”
“The level of evidence necessary to secure a grand jury indictment is a ‘reasonable cause’ to believe that the person has committed the crime. Based on such a low standard of evidence, the rigid refusal to consider options other than a ‘top count’ guilty plea or trial is inconsistent with DA-elect Katz’s commitment to an open minded approach to case resolution that considers all possible dispositions of a case that will serve the ends of justice,” the statement said.
Katz said she made the changes to “foster a new spirit of cooperation” with all parties — including defendants — to seek justice.
26 comments:
Good for mindless Queens Voters and those who did not get out and vote !
KKK: Katz Koddles Kriminals
I don't care if this sounds like a conspiracy theory (and it damn well shouldn't); there is a concerted effort to keep prison population down to justify shutting down Rikers Island as quickly as possible.
She has to pander to the fired-up collectivist wing of the Dem. party. She's protecting her political ass. The Old School Law Enforcement is already pissed at this pandering. Should be interesting to hear her sing the lyrics of her new left-wing arias when she gets sworn in as DA at St. John's on Jan. 6. Stay-tuned.
All this sounds reasonable. What's the problem? Why shouldn't prisoners be able to have a grand jury hearing within 5 days (as is their right) without being strongarmed by the government to waive it?
RE: JQ LLC
It shouldn't sound like a conspiracy theory. The overwhelming majority of Katz's contributions came from developers. I was wondering why so many developers were interested in donating to her campaign, seeing as how she was no longer going to be Queens borough president. But now that she's going to be the next D.A. and wants to shut down Riker's, it all makes sense...
JQ, a conspiracy suggests secrecy. I believe what you claim has been openly stated by the current administration.
Last two anons:
So much for Katz being against the Kew Gardens tower prison.
***I don't care if this sounds like a conspiracy theory (and it damn well shouldn't); there is a concerted effort to keep prison population down to justify shutting down Rikers Island as quickly as possible.***
Absolutely. That's why they have Miss Katz in place for example and McKinsey falsifying data.
Need the land for the developers.
What a corrupt pieces of shit these humanoids are.
Let me get this thought right ... we have more crime and real estate sales increase....right?!! More flight from New York City...more sales and income for the developers.
Lazy
Promises less prostitution? Ah, heck! But not to worry, it's happening all over the country! Yep. Small town guy again. Our new prosecutor, a Republican, just handed down a year and a half in a drug rehab program to a hard core meth dealer with at least nine serious and violent felonies in his past. Another one of those strange epidemics that seem to cross state, racial, and party lines. Elect the bastards out every time they come up again. A sad state of affairs for us hard working, normal, citizens.
@Our new prosecutor, a Republican...Elect the bastards out every time they come up again.
You got it. Is not a Democrat or Republican issue anymore. We can all have disagreements on certain policies, but most normal, sane people will agree on what is wrong is wrong regardless pf party affiliation. What some people don't understand at election time, they need to vote for the right person not for some ideology.
All these politicians need to be Mussolinied,all you need is a car bumper,rope and open road.
I had a break
in,cop told me had I hurt the perp I'd be arrested
Well, are the normal hard working citizens of Queens just going to settle for this DA with no courtroom experience? We need a candidate who speaks for us in the special election for Borough President this February.We also need to get rid or Marxist Latina Barbie aka Ocasio-Cortez
@cop told me had I hurt the perp I'd be arrested
Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
"Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6."
Not in Liberal Wacco NYC !
The New Yorkers better apply for premises permits, shooting lessons and study New York's castle doctrine laws. These criminals are growing big balls with deBlasios free and no bail law effective Jan 1st.
When they know the can sucker punch cops and get released in 4 hours you can bet they will soon be coming through the windows and fire escapes at night.
Go ahead New York, keep re-electing democrats, commies and liberals.
Woman accused of assaulting 3 Jewish women arrested again day after release !
A day after she was released without bail ! This is sick !
"Go ahead New York, keep re-electing democrats, commies and liberals."
It's like our electurds are trying to out do the left coast !
God Help Us !
"Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6"
Very true, but now a big problem exists in NYs new unified court system..
If your white and get arrested for hurting a black or Hispanic criminal do you really think you can pick unbiased jurors in NYC these days?
Its near impossible because the pools to pick from are 80% black or Hispanic and if you want to pick even 1/2 white jurors they wont let you, they call you a racist and uses that against you.
Innocent people now need to study all of New York castle doctrine laws to avoid arrest when protecting themselves and others.
>study New York's castle doctrine laws
Unless it's been quietly been changed lately, our Castle Laws are actually really strong. Unlike what a cop told an Anonymous above, if someone breaks into your house, you can presume deadly intent and defend yourself accordingly.
What are you gonna use to protect yourself from home intruders? A frying pan? You gave up your Second Amendment Rights Voluntarily generations ago.
You can get a premise permit !
https://rules.cityofnewyork.us/content/amendment-premise-handgun-license-rules
"What are you gonna use to protect yourself from home intruders? A frying pan?"
You strike an intruder meant to do you harm inside your home with a frying pan and today the cops will arrest you. You're meant to reason with the intruder and politely ask him to leave.
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