Councilmember Morano questions Judge Zayas on 4,000 jail population goal vs. justice

I'm going to yield myself to allow my colleagues to ask some questions.

I'm going to first hear from Councilmember Murano, followed by Councilmember Brewer.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you for convening this hearing on such an important topic.

And, Judge, as the council member that represents the only borough that routinely elects both Democrat and Republican judges, I can attest to how widely respected you are by jurists on both sides of the aisle.

And hearing your testimony, it's easy to understand why.

I had a couple quick questions based on your testimony.

You stated that

One of the goals is reducing the jail population to around 4,000 so that it can be accommodated by the borough-based jails.

And when we questioned the correction commissioner, he indicated the same thing.

Shouldn't the criminal justice system be focused on administering justice?

In a way that's fair and in a way that protects public safety rather than achieving a predetermined jail population?

Are we at risk of allowing the capacity of our jail system to dictate criminal justice policy instead of the other way around?

Yeah, I mean, I don't think we're at risk for that because it is an aspirational goal.

And having, you know, what's that phrase?

If you don't have a goal, you're never going to meet it.

I don't think that's the, you could probably say it better than me.

The 4,000 number I will concede does not adequately take into account spikes or increases in criminal activity, violent crimes.

But all things being conceded, I think it's a reasonable thing for...

Folks to do is to have a goal of 4,000 and let's see how we're able to get there.

I don't think justice is being short-circuited or jeopardized by it.

I think

We can have a goal and also make sure that justice is done without,

you know, if you're suggesting that we would just start releasing people from jail just to reach the 4,000 number, then I completely get your point.

But otherwise, I think we could do both things at the same time.