Governor Kathy Hochul is under fire after reports revealed that her administration is quietly pushing a plan to allow violent criminals to be released from prison earlier as part of New York’s 2025 state budget negotiations.
Sources familiar with the closed-door talks say the proposal includes expanded parole eligibility and reduced time served for inmates convicted of serious offenses—including armed robbery, gang activity, assault, and other violent crimes. The plan is being packaged as part of a broader “criminal justice reform” push, but critics say it’s nothing more than a dangerous concession to far-left activists.
Rather than going through the normal legislative process, Hochul’s administration is reportedly trying to fast-track the changes through budget negotiations—shielding them from public debate and oversight.
“This is an insult to every victim and every law-abiding New Yorker,” one Republican lawmaker said. “Governor Hochul is siding with criminals over communities, and she’s doing it behind closed doors.”
The move comes at a time when violent crime continues to plague cities across the state. From subway assaults in New York City to gang violence in upstate neighborhoods, residents are already feeling the impact of years of soft-on-crime policies pushed by Democrat leaders. Law enforcement groups and victims’ advocates have blasted the governor’s early release proposal, warning that it will only accelerate the breakdown of public safety.
“We’ve seen the results of these policies before,” said a representative from a victims’ rights organization. “Violent offenders get released early, and within weeks, they’re committing new crimes—sometimes worse than the ones they were originally locked up for. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
According to insiders, Hochul’s proposal would roll back mandatory minimums, weaken sentencing guidelines, and make it easier for inmates convicted of violent acts to appear before parole boards years ahead of schedule.
Republicans in Albany are demanding transparency and accountability. They argue that Hochul is attempting to sneak radical reforms into a must-pass budget deal in order to avoid political blowback before the next election cycle.
“This is backdoor lawmaking at its worst,” one GOP senator said. “She knows the public would never support this if it were debated openly, so she’s trying to hide it in the fine print of the state budget. It’s disgraceful.”
Even some moderate Democrats are reportedly uneasy about the plan, concerned that it could backfire politically and further erode trust in a justice system already under scrutiny.
Public confidence in Hochul’s leadership has been steadily declining as crime rates remain stubbornly high, especially in New York City where businesses and families continue to flee. With this latest proposal, critics say the governor is once again putting ideology ahead of safety.
“New Yorkers want a governor who protects them—not one who cuts sweetheart deals for violent criminals behind closed doors,” said one Albany lawmaker.
The early release proposal is now shaping up to be one of the most controversial elements of this year’s state budget negotiations—and it’s drawing a clear line between those who stand with victims and those who continue to prioritize the rights of criminals.