Garbarino, N.Y. Republicans unveil bill to stop states from enabling repeat violence

To end repeat violence across the country, U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) recently joined the entire New York Republican delegation to introduce legislation that would authorize grants for states and local governments to adopt policies that hold repeat offenders accountable and bolster public safety.  

“Every single day violent crime is splashed across the front pages of New York newspapers,” Rep. Garbarino said. “New Yorkers live in fear as crime rates continue to rise and our law enforcement officers fight to keep our communities safe while contending with reduced resources and state laws like cashless bail making their jobs harder.” 

The Stop Enabling Repeat Violence and Endangering (SERVE) Our Communities Act, H.R. 304, which Rep. Garbarino cosponsored on Jan. 11 with 10 other GOP colleagues from his home state, would authorize $10 million in anti-recidivism grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice for states that have laws directing courts to consider dangerousness when determining bail or pretrial release, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s staff. 

States having such laws would receive grants if they also have taken steps to hire and retain law enforcement or administer a public awareness campaign that fights anti-police sentiment and improves community-police relations, the summary says.

“I am proud to cosponsor the SERVE Our Communities Act, which will incentivize states like New York to invest in our police departments, take steps to hire and retain more officers, and implement policies to keep dangerous criminals off the streets instead of allowing repeat offenders to go free time and time again,” said Rep. Garbarino.

H.R. 304 has received support from the National District Attorneys Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.