***For Immediate Release***

Brooklyn Defenders Hails Passage of the Promoting Pre-Trial (PromPT) Stability Act in New York State Assembly; Urges Senate to Bring to a Vote

Legislation Codifies Court Ruling that Established Right to Hearing to Justify Stay-Away Orders, Bolstering Due Process and Stabilizing Families

(Albany, NY) - Brooklyn Defender Services released the following statement in response to the passage of the Promoting Pre-Trial (PromPT) Stability Act S.36271A (Ramos)/A.6455 (Septimo) in the New York State Assembly last night. The legislation codifies a court decision that established the right to a hearing to determine whether a full Temporary Order of Protection (TOP) is appropriate and necessary during a criminal proceeding:

“For years, full Temporary Orders of Protection have had devastating impacts on many New Yorkers, frequently rendering people homeless, separated from their families, or at risk of losing their employment. TOPs are often routinely issued by criminal court judges, with little due process and tremendous consequences.

The PromPT Stability Act codifies the recent Crawford ruling, which guaranteed people accused of crimes the right for a court hearing to consider the appropriateness of a protective order. The bill allows judges to evaluate the specifics of a particular case or relationship with more evidence than is available at an initial court appearance, before extending a TOP. The bill clarifies the structure of the hearings, ensuring that courts uniformly follow proper procedure statewide.

We thank sponsor Assembly Member Amanda Septimo and the Assembly for passing the PromPT Stability Act, and we urge the Senate to pass this critical legislation that strengthens due process and stabilizes families.”