Opinions

Carl Heastie must start listening and focusing on the task at hand



There is a growing concern among New Yorkers about violent retail thieves who openly break the law and harm those who try to stop them, leading to a desire for harsher penalties for such criminal behavior. One advocate for this is Gov. Hochul, but she has been unable to gain the support of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

Heastie’s resistance to harsher penalties is based on his belief that increasing punishments does not deter crime. He firmly stated, “No,” when asked if harsher penalties could reduce criminal activities, stating that historical evidence does not support this notion.

However, many argue that there is evidence to support the idea that harsher penalties can act as a deterrent for criminals. Research on laws like California’s “three strikes” legislation has shown a decrease in felony arrest rates among certain groups of criminals. Additionally, studies on the threat of incarceration as a penalty have shown increased compliance with court-ordered obligations.

While Heastie is entitled to his policy choices as a political leader, there is a disagreement on the efficacy of harsher penalties in deterring crime. Proponents of such penalties argue that incapacitation of chronic offenders, who pose a continued threat to society, is a critical aspect of criminal justice.

The recent tragic murder of Detective Jonathan Diller has reignited conversations about the need for stronger penalties to prevent repeat offenders from committing further crimes. New Yorkers have been calling for change, but lawmakers like Heastie have rejected the idea.

Ultimately, the debate continues about the effectiveness of harsher penalties in reducing crime rates. The question remains whether this disagreement will lead to meaningful change in policies.

Rafael A. Mangual is the Nick Ohnell fellow at the Manhattan Institute and the author of “Criminal (In)Justice: What The Push For Decarceration And Depolicing Gets Wrong And Who It Hurts Most”



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