Yesterday, the New York State Assembly passed Assemblymember Steck’s legislation to save Schenectady County Sheriff’s Department resources as well as money for Schenectady County taxpayers (A.6527).

The legislation allows the Schenectady County Jail to be used as a holding facility for suspects in custody awaiting arraignment. Without a holding facility, Sheriff’s Deputies and their road patrols have to wait with the suspects in the front of the jail, sometimes for hours on end until a judge is available, wasting valuable Sheriff’s Department resources. Neighboring counties such as Montgomery and Albany have adopted similar measures, noted Steck.

“This bill will save money for Schenectady County taxpayers while allowing the road patrols to do what they do best, protect the residents of Schenectady County, rather than sitting with the suspects in custody awaiting an arraignment,” Assemblymember Steck said.

“This change in the law will allow my Deputies to make arrests and get back on the road protecting the community when judges are not immediately available for arraignment,” said Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino. “This change allows the department additional flexibility while increasing efficiency and at the same time reducing overtime expenditures.”