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In Binghamton, NY GOP Chair Rails Against Criminal Justice Reforms

BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) - New York Republican chair Nick Langworthy continues to tour the state to push for the repeal of criminal justice reforms that passed the legislature last year.

The reforms include ending cash bail for most non-violent crimes and accelerating the deadline for the prosecution to turn over evidence. They went into effect in January.

Republicans and some law enforcement officials have said these changes were rushed and claimed they have dangerous unintended consequences.

Speaking in Binghamton on Monday, Langworthy said he does not have a lot of faith Democrats in Albany will do much to address these concerns before the budget is due next month.

“I don’t care what they do in the budget process because it won’t be enough," Langworthy said. "It’ll be window dressing, it’ll be cosmetic changes and they’ll declare victory, spike the football and think they’re done with it.”

Langworthy was joined by Broome County Republican Chair Bijoy Datta, Binghamton Mayor Rich David, New York 51st District Senator Fred Akshar and former 22nd District Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, among others.

Langworthy hopes, in an election year, Democrats hear from voters displeased with the reforms at the ballot box.

Meanwhile, supporters of the reform said it’s too early to know the true effect of the reforms. They say more time is needed to truly know whether they are working or not.

“I think the wisest course of action would be let this play out," said Mary Clark, who's with the group Citizen Action. It advocates for racial and criminal justice. "Let’s go for a year. Let’s look at the real data, the real statistics, what’s really happening here.”

Clark called much of the push for repeal "fear mongering".