Reform the reform; that was the message from Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck when discussing bail reform on FLX Morning with Ted Baker on Thursday.
“With bail reform, I think we need to reform the reform,” said Schenck. “I think judges need to be able to assess dangerousness and have the ability to hold someone if they meet a certain dangerousness standard. I know many states across the country have that in place.”
In his interview, Schenck cited a recent call for bail reform changes by Seneca County Sheriff Tim Thompson following the release of a Maine man accused of multiple robberies in the Town of Tyre. Like Thompson, Schenck believes this highlights the public safety issues associated with current bail reform policies.
“It’s creating an unsafe precedent in our state,” said Schenck.
Schenck also discussed a trip he, Undersheriff Stu Peenstra, Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond, and Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby took to Albany earlier this week to meet with elected representatives.
He said the effects of Raise the Age Laws on the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office were a prime topic of discussion with State Senator Rachel May.
“We discussed with the senator and a number of our representatives the fact that we’ve got to do a better job of making more beds available throughout the state,” Schenck said.
According to the sheriff, the biggest problem created by the Raise the Age reforms is the need to find special housing for 16 and 17-year-old individuals who can’t be housed at the jail due to the reforms. He said this can create situations where the minors have to be taken to facilities as far away as New York City just to be picked up the next day and brought back to Cayuga County for a court appearance.
You can listen to Sheriff Schenck’s full FLX Morning interview below.
FLX MORNING PODCAST – Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck, SRO Mike Roden
