Assembly Candidate Andrew Molitor pictured with state Senator George Borrello and moderator David Hazelton.

Assembly Candidate Andrew Molitor, at an event sponsored by the Brocton library, outlined several changes he would support to make communities safer if he is elected to the state Assembly.

Molitor serves as the Chautauqua County first assistant district attorney. Based on his experience, Molitor said he would vote to change the current bail law, relax what he termed as unreasonable discovery timeframes, toughen parole laws and strengthen the state Corrections Law to make prisons safer.

“Unfortunately, radical Democrats in Albany have gutted our criminal justice laws, forced the release of thousands of criminals without bail, overburdened our prosecutors with unreasonable requirements, and handcuffed police officers, parole officers, and correction officers,” Molitor said after the meeting. “Rather than help criminals stay out of jail, it is time that we put public safety first by protecting our residents from violent criminals.”

In 2019, Democrats began dismantling the criminal justice system by eliminating bail for more than 400 crimes, turning arrests into “catch and release.” For example, they eliminated bail for criminals that sell fentanyl, a class B felony. As a result, some arrested drug dealers are immediately released back into the community.

The Democrats also amended the criminal discovery law to place a tremendous burden on police and prosecutors by requiring them to turn over extensive materials on a very short timeframe or else the case is dismissed. A more reasonable time-frame is essential, Molitor said.

The parole laws were amended to allow a convicted criminal to commit a substantial violation of their parole conditions and still remain out on parole;

“As we have seen, someone like Edward Kindt can literally abscond from parole without facing any additional prison time,” lamented Molitor.

The Correction Law was recently amended to reduce the ability of correctional officers to place an inmate in solitary confinement when they are violent toward officers or other inmates, making prisons much more dangerous. The amendments also increased contact visits in prisons, resulting in a drastic increase in illegal contraband, like drugs and weapons, in prisons.

“Our district is a great place to live and raise a family,” stated Molitor, “but we need to do a better job of protecting our community from criminals that do not care about us and we need to support law enforcement who risk their lives to keep us safe.”