Mayor De Blasio Admits Bail Reform Responsible For Increase In NYC Crime

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has linked the increase in major crime throughout the city to changes in bail regulations for the city’s prisoners.

Last week, it was announced that New York City saw a surge in practically all types of crime. Robberies jumped nearly 35 percent, shootings increased 23 percent increase and burglaries spiked 22 percent compared to the same time period last year. Vehicle robberies are up over 70 percent.

The New York Daily News reports, much to the chagrin of bail reform advocates, the highly progressive mayor has pinned the increase on the new laws.

“We had, for six years, steady decreases in crime across the board. There’s not a whole lot of other environmental things that have changed recently,” de Blasio said to WNYC’s Brian Lehrer. “It sort of stands out like a sore thumb that this is the single biggest new thing in the equation and we saw an extraordinary jump.”

New York City Police Commissioner Dermott Shea was among the first to link the uptick in crimes to the new reform laws, which requires judges to release suspects without bail for most misdemeanors and some felonies. He made his case to Albany, after which supporters of the laws labeled his claims as fearmongering.

De Blasio again doubled down on his support for giving the judges the power to lock up defendants they believe are a danger to the public while awaiting trial — a position that’s left him at odds with the bail overhaul’s top backer, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

Up to his subsequent admission, de Blasio spent the week dodging questions about the relationship between the increase in crime and the newly enacted bail reform.

“We’re in dialogue with leaders in Albany about those concerns, and we want to move forward. In the meantime, this police force can handle anything thrown at them,” he said.