Tyquan Rivera is a free man. 

He was released from prison on Friday afternoon as part of the new and controversial criminal justice reform laws.

Rivera was arrested on a drug charge and had previously been jailed for shooting a Rochester police officer.

Rivera left jail and walked directly to the Office of the Monroe County conflict defender. He had no comment.

Rivera stands accused of drug-related charges that the state says can no longer require incarceration. He'd been held on bail since he was charged last year with criminal sale of a controlled substance.

The state bail reform allows Rivera to be released on his own recognizance and given an appearance ticket.

Rivera was 14 years old when he was convicted of shooting RPD Officer Anthony DiPonzio. He served seven years for that attack.

"The charges that are currently pending against him, being two undercover charges of fentanyl, they are non-qualifying offenses. Under the new law, if you are charged with a non-qualifying offense, the court does not have the authority to set bail. So there is a presumption of release on cognizance or being able to just walk outside of the courtroom," said Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley.

The bail reform is designed to prevent defendants from lingering in jail, but the way the law stands now has been highly criticized by local law enforcement.

"Tony Diponzio can't make any changes in his life, where he’s at can’t be changed by decisions. Tyquan made a terrible decision years ago. He had an opportunity then to change his life and go forward and we’ve seen where that’s gone," said Michael Mazzeo, president of the Rochester Police Locust Club.

Officer Diponzio survived, but suffered life-altering injuries.

Doorley says the judge sentenced Rivera to wear an electronic monitoring device, turn in a passport should he have one, and not to possess firearms.