NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Data from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services shows violent crime, robbery and burglaries are down outside of New York City.

However, some law enforcement leaders continue to say bail reform and Raise the Age law changes prevent them from keeping repeat offenders and dangerous criminals off the streets.

That's why Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti is joining other sheriffs in planning to host a Consortium on Safe Communities.

“When we talk about repeat offenders, that is a very, very frustrating one,” said Filicetti. “An appearance ticket is given and somebody commits another crime, and they get another appearance ticket and then they get another. It almost looks to the community as if, you know, ‘you’re really not going to be able to help me here.’”

Filicetti said the data does not tell the whole story from a law enforcement perspective. His agency saw an uptick in burglaries in 2022.

Filicetti said he is following the lead of Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter in inviting the community to brainstorm ideas to help address the issue.

“Nobody’s calling for a repeal from these consortiums. Really what we’re asking for is some common sense changes,” he said. “We have to have the ability, the judges have to have the ability to say, 'wait a minute, this individual is a repeat offender. Enough’s enough.'” 

Bail reform and Raise the Age laws were put in place, according to lawmakers and advocates, to even the playing field.

Raise the Age was intended to help young people avoid a life in the criminal justice system by changing the age of criminal responsibility to 18.

Bail reform eliminated cash bail for misdemeanors and low-level felonies so those of less economic means are not kept in jail because they can’t afford to post bail.

One man advocating for the laws is Trent Hamilton, who spent six years in prison on drug trafficking charges after spending four years in pretrial detention. 

“When they say you’re innocent until proven guilty, I was guilty until I was proven otherwise,” said Hamilton. 

He runs the Entrepreneur School of Thoughts in Niagara Falls, a community center aimed at bringing people together and providing resources to those in need, in the name of self-reliance.

Hamilton uses his story to show others how to regain control of their lives.

“I always tell young people about my story and the redemption side because a lot of times we glorify what a person did to go to jail, but we don’t often glorify what they’re doing after they get out. The positive thing that they’re doing to stay out of jail and to help prevent others from experiencing similar situations,” Hamilton said. 

There have been several changes to criminal justice reform in the last few years, including amending bail reform to give judges more discretion, which is something critics of the initial law advocated for to help keep repeat offenders off the street.