Since New York City adopted the Criminal Justice Reform Act, there has been a significant decline in criminal summonses issued by the NYPD. Joseph Tacopina, a lawyer, highlights the importance of this landmark legislation, which allows police to treat certain low-level offenses as civil rather than criminal. These offenses accounted for 52 percent of all criminal summonses in 2016, the year before the reform law took effect, marking a step toward a fairer and more just criminal justice system.
The CRJA gives defendants the option of paying a fine on charges of public consumption of alcohol, public urination, unreasonable noise, littering, and City Park rules violations. Joseph Tacopina highlights that removing these offenses from the criminal courts aims to spare people harsh punishments for minor infractions and reduce the collateral consequences of a conviction, such as difficulties with employment, education, and housing. According to a study, about a third of the people who receive civil summonses for these offenses choose to pay the fine.
But despite the reform law, it’s important to remember that police still have considerable discretion in handling these offenses. Criminal summonses can still be issued, arrests can still occur, and prosecution remains possible, especially when someone has a criminal record or an outstanding arrest warrant, as noted by legal experts like Joseph Tacopina.
If you are charged with any criminal offense in New York City, you may face fines, jail time, and community service. Even a minor offense can lead to an arrest record, regardless of a guilty plea or conviction. Consulting with a criminal defense attorney like Joseph Tacopina upon receiving a summons is essential to understand if the charge is criminal and how best to contest it.
At Tacopina, Seigel & DeOreo, we believe strongly that everyone’s rights should be protected and that lives shouldn’t be destroyed over minor transgressions. If you need a strong advocate like Joseph Tacopina to defend your rights, please call our Manhattan office or contact us online today.