Press Statement

Statement in Response to Mayor Adams’ Call to Jail More New Yorkers Pre-Trial

NEW YORK – Today, NYC Mayor Eric Adams called for changes to New York’s bail reform law that would increase the number of New Yorkers subjected to pre-trial incarceration. In response, Marvin Mayfield, Director of Organizing at Center for Community Alternatives, said:

“The loss of life is a tragedy, and we mourn with all New Yorkers who have lost their lives on New York’s streets and behind bars. Our communities need and deserve true solutions to community safety and well-being, including investments in community-based violence prevention programs, affordable and permanent supportive housing, and access to jobs and economic opportunity.

Jailing more New Yorkers without a trial is not a solution. In fact, research shows that pretrial incarceration – by destabilizing and disrupting people’s lives – increases the likelihood of future arrests and undermines the health and safety of individuals, families, and their communities.

We already know what unchecked judicial discretion looks like: the mass incarceration of Black and brown New Yorkers. Asking judges to predict who is ‘dangerous’ will only worsen racial disparities and undermine our constitutional rights. Posing this as a solution to gun violence, particularly given that gun charges remain bail-eligible, is disingenuous and will only cost more lives.

We call on New York’s legislature to reject this proposal to rollback bail reform and focus on real solutions for community safety and wellbeing.”