Onondaga County officials on Thursday voiced their support for New York state legislation that would require judges to consider the risks a suspect may pose to public safety when determining pretrial custody.
The Pretrial Risk Overview for Threat Evaluation, Custody, and Treatment Act, or PROTECT Act, would create a standardized risk assessment tool for judges to use for pre-trial custody decisions.
State Sen. Pam Helming, R-Canandaigua, introduced the bill earlier this year in response to the state’s bail laws after she and some law enforcement officials claimed current state law has led to increased crime involving repeat offenders. She says the standardized form would help judges to make an informed decision when someone is charged with a felony or Class A missdemeanor…