ALBANY, NY– FWD.us New York State Director of Criminal Justice Alana Sivin released the following statement on Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address today:

“While we share the Governor’s dedication to keep all New Yorkers safe, increasing penalties for retail theft will not make our communities safer. As New York lawmakers consider policies this session, we urge them to safeguard the progress New York has made to make its criminal justice system fairer and more just, and look towards evidence-based solutions that strengthen our communities.”