City Council Approves Easing Punishments For Low-Level Crimes
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York City will reduce the penalties for minor offenses like littering and public urination under a package of bills approved by the City Council on Wednesday.
The overhaul intends to help unclog the city's courts and jails.
The Criminal Justice Reform Act alters the penalties for offenses including littering and possessing an open container of alcohol in public. Those offenses would remain illegal, but the legislation steers them to civil court rather than criminal court.
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito has said it will result in more proportional penalties for low level, non-violent offenses. Some penalties would be reduced from 90 days in jail to one day in jail.
After a year of negotiations with the City Council, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton praises the current measure.
"Some of the early on versions of these bills were to take away the criminal law aspect of it that would have removed the basic tool that would have allowed my officers to enforce these rules and regulations, even as the penalties were lessened," Bratton said.
Under the current measure, officers retain the right in every instance to make an arrest if appropriate, Bratton said.
He calls it a win for police, the courts and the council, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign the bills into law.
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