As a result of statewide bail reforms passed in Albany this past April, at least 100 inmates of the Orange County Jail in Goshen will be freed back into the general population on or before January 1, 2020.

"There are offenses that usually would have resulted in bail that will not result in bail come Jan. 1," said Orange County Undersheriff Kenneth Jones.

Inmates who have committed charges ranging from aggravated vehicular homicide down to misdemeanors will be released, and instructed to appear for a court date instead. Even when repeated offenses or the same offense are committed by the same individual, they'll still be repeatedly "ROR'd," or released on their own recognizance.

Jones says these reforms could put repeat offenders back on the streets.

"I know that when you re-release people and they catch on that they can commit another crime of similar nature and be released again, I don't see how that's going to result in lower crime rates," said Jones.

He also says fewer inmates doesn't necessarily equal savings for jails.

"They failed to comprehend two things: One is that staffing is based on square footage and capacity, not the number of people that are actually in the jail," said Jones.

Jones also worries that these bail reforms could worsen the opioid crisis across the state. He fears that could lead to more overdose deaths.

"The Orange County Jail is one of the points of the spear as far as treatment for people," Jones said, "and often a person that has addiction issues commits low-level crimes. All of those crimes now are releasable, so they won't come in and they won't have an opportunity to get into treatment."

Many bail reform advocates say those with addictions are better treated outside the penal system.

Jones says the sheriff's department is committed to creating a plan that will release eligible inmates for the Jan. 1 deadline, even though that plan isn't worked out yet.