Public Opinion Poll

New Yorkers Show Broad Support for Bold Pretrial Reforms

Public Opinion Poll

New Yorkers Show Broad Support for Bold Pretrial Reforms

Voters overwhelmingly support pretrial reforms that keep people at home while they wait for their trials, shorten case processing times, and prevent defendants from taking plea deals before evidence is shared with them.

New Yorkers Support Broad Limits on Pretrial Incarceration

NEW YORK VOTERS STRONGLY SUPPORT SPEEDY TRIAL REFORM

90 percent of voters are in favor of setting firm speedy trial requirements, including 78 percent who strongly support the idea.

59 percent of New York voters believe a trial must begin within eight weeks to be considered “speedy.”

NEW YORK’S DISCOVERY PRACTICES ARE OUT OF STEP WITH VOTERS.

78 percent of voters are in favor of allowing people who are accused of a crime to see the evidence against them before deciding whether to plead guilty or go to trial.

NEW YORKERS BELIEVE THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING WASTED ON PRETRIAL INCARCERATION

82 percent of voters believe it is a waste of taxpayer money to keep people accused of non-violent crimes in New York State jails while they wait for their trials.

NEW YORKERS RECOGNIZE THE ROLE WEALTH PLAYS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

83 percent of voters believe wealthy people have a better chance of being found not guilty in New York State than lower-income people.

68 percent of voters believe that people shouldn’t be stuck in jail just because they can’t afford to pay bail before their trial.

 

NEW YORKERS WANT TO SEE REDUCED JAIL POPULATIONS.

80 percent of voters think there should be fewer people incarcerated in New York State for minor and non-violent crimes.

71 percent of voters believe New York State should reform its criminal justice system to reduce the number of people in jail.

 

NEW YORKERS ARE READY FOR BOLD CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

58 percent of voters think that New York should make major (as opposed to minor) changes to the criminal justice system.

SUPPORT FOR REFORM INCREASES WHEN VOTERS HEAR A BACK AND FORTH DEBATE.

When voters are exposed to balanced messaging both for and against ending jail before trial for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, support for the proposal increases by nine points (from 71 percent support/24 percent oppose to 80 percent/14 percent).

 

 

SUPPORT FOR PRETRIAL REFORM IS STRONG ACROSS ALL REGIONS OF THE STATE.

Support for ending the policy of jailing people accused of misdemeanors and non-violent felonies before trial is nearly identical among upstate voters (70 percent) and downstate voters (71 percent).

69 percent of upstate voters and 76 percent of downstate voters support replacing the system of jailing people before trial unless they are a flight risk and have been accused of a felony involving physical force or major property damage.

 

SUPPORT FOR PRETRIAL REFORMS CUTS ACROSS PARTY LINES.

64 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Democrats support ending the policy of jailing people accused of misdemeanors and non-violent felonies before trial.

74 percent of Republicans and 79 percent of Democrats are in favor of allowing people who are accused of a crime to see the evidence against them before deciding whether to plead guilty or go to trial.

89 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats are in favor of setting firm speedy trial limits.

 

CRIME VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS SHOW STRONGER SUPPORT FOR PRETRIAL REFORM THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

73 percent of crime victim households (compared to 70 percent of non-victim households) support ending the policy of jailing people accused of misdemeanors and non-violent felonies before trial.

84 percent of crime victim households (compared to 75 percent of non-victim households) are in favor of allowing people who are accused of a crime to see the evidence against them before deciding whether to plead guilty or go to trial.

96 percent of crime victim households (compared to 88 percent of non-victim households) are in favor of setting firm speedy trial limits.