Sitio web en Español: 

24/7/365 Emergency Hotline: 631-348-1702

Group Photo
group-photo-2024
slide-image-4-mcguire-pelaez-bennet-badge
previous arrow
next arrow

24/7/365 Emergency Hotline: 631-348-1702

If you have been arrested, or in case of an emergency, our attorneys can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 631-348-1702.

NY Criminal Justice Reforms See Pushback from Prosecutors, Police

This summer, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a package of reforms into law that are set to radically alter how the criminal justice system functions throughout the state. While criminal justice advocates were pleased with the reforms that were passed, some, including several politicians and law enforcement representatives, are more critical of the reforms. Some even hope to have the reforms stopped from going into effect, which is scheduled to happen on January 1, 2020.

The criminal justice reforms include a swathe of changes to criminal procedure, including eliminating bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony offenses. It also changes the rules for the discovery process, meaning prosecutors will need to turn over evidence earlier than they previously had to, as well as providing contact information for witnesses to allow defense attorneys to interview or depose them. These, among others, are reforms criminal justice advocates have been demanding for many years, and their passage this year was a major victory for them.

However, the pushback against these reforms has been intense, particularly from prosecutors, law enforcement, and politicians who fear what will happen now that they can no longer hold most criminal defendants on bail unless they engage in violent behavior. Bail, after all, is a system that was designed to prevent defendants from fleeing, and with bail so severely restricted, critics fear an increase in cases of people simply fleeing rather than showing up to court. Similarly, the changes to the discovery rules will severely impact prosecutors’ ability to secure plea deals, potentially leading to backups in the system as more people bring their cases to trial instead of pleading out. Whether these fears will prove to be justified remains to be seen.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for a criminal offense, you will need legal counsel to help you preserve your rights and work to get the best possible outcome for your matter. A New York criminal defense lawyer, who is experienced in handling criminal cases of all sorts, can advise you of your legal rights and will fight for your best interests in court. If you or your loved one has been arrested, contact the Suffolk County criminal defense attorneys at McGuire, Peláez and Bennett at (631) 348-1702.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Reviews

Muy eficientes y trabajan muy rápido en el caso que tengan muy buena recomendación y servicio
They were a big help with a case I had that had been prolonged by NYC. With their help I avoided 8 points & an increase on my insurance. Can't recommend them enough, well worth the money.
Me fue bien. Trabajan muy bien. Son recomendados
Response from the owner:Thank you very much for your positive review, Orlando. We appreciate you coming to us for legal assistance, and hope you consider us if you need any further help.
Mi experiencia con los los Abogados en Mcguirre, Peláez son muy profesionales le recomendaría a mucha de mis amigos hispanos
Response from the owner:Thank you very much for your review, Joel. We are glad we could be of assistance. Please let us know if there are any future legal issues you need help with.
I can’t recommend Brett Bennett — or really, anyone at McGuire, Peláez & Bennett — highly enough. Hiring Brett was hands-down one of the best decisions I’ve made (and trust me, given why I needed a lawyer, I’ve made some questionable ones).

From the start, Brett made the whole process so much less stressful. He’s approachable, sharp, and always available to chat — no legal jargon, no intimidation, just solid, straightforward guidance. My case wasn’t exactly simple, but Brett’s expertise and understanding of the law turned what felt like a mess into a remarkably favorable outcome. Way beyond what I expected.

Also, special shoutout to the receptionist — she was an absolute gem. Every time I called, she was kind, helpful, and somehow managed to make the whole experience feel a little less daunting.

Bottom line: Brett was affordable, worth every penny, and then some. If you’re reading reviews wondering who to trust with your legal headache — take it from me, this is your guy.
Response from the owner:Maeve, we greatly appreciate you leaving your review. We are happy to have been of service, and hope we can help you again if you ever need any assistance with a future legal matter.
js_loader
Skip to content