ITHACA, NY (WSKG) - In Tuesday's State of the State Address, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed several changes to the criminal justice system.
Cuomo called for an end to cash bail, changes to the rules of discovery and additional reforms meant to help people re-enter society after incarceration.
"New York State can be a model," said Yusif Abdul-Qadir, the central New York director for the New York Civil Liberties Union, "and I think the governor has made a good first pitch.
"But it’s time for us to really do the progressive thing and listen to the communities that have be historically and currently directly impacted. To listen to advocates on the ground and make that the types of bills and proposals that inevitably pass the legislature."
The governor only mentioned one budget proposal relating to his criminal justice reform agenda. He called for $100-million to fund implementation of the Raise The Age law. It prohibits children from being tried as adults.