{"id":392706,"date":"2022-01-12T01:17:19","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T22:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/lets-break-down-exactly-what-manhattan-da-alvin-braggs-memo-says\/"},"modified":"2022-01-12T01:17:19","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T22:17:19","slug":"lets-break-down-exactly-what-manhattan-da-alvin-braggs-memo-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/lets-break-down-exactly-what-manhattan-da-alvin-braggs-memo-says\/","title":{"rendered":"#Let&#8217;s break down exactly what Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg&#8217;s memo says"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;<strong>#Let&#8217;s break down exactly what Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg&#8217;s memo says<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--columnist inline-module--author\">\n<div class=\"inline-module--author__img\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"76\" height=\"69\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/nicole-gelinas.png?w=76&amp;h=69&amp;crop=1\" class=\"attachment-nyp_columnist size-nyp_columnist\" alt=\"Nicole Gelinas\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/nicole-gelinas.png 76w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/nicole-gelinas.png?w=38 38w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 76px) 100vw, 76px\"\/>        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Nine days ago, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg released his \u201cday one\u201d memo directing his staff not to prosecute armed robberies \u2014 and since then, he\u2019s gotten relentless criticism. Bragg could fix this by saying: \u201cI was wrong.\u201d Instead, he\u2019s saying: You were wrong. <\/p>\n<p>Everyone from Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell to Partnership for New York City chief Kathy Wylde misunderstood the memo, he claimed. <\/p>\n<p>Sorry, Mr. Bragg \u2014 mansplaining is not going to get you out of this one. <\/p>\n<p>Monday, Bragg tried this spin on radio host Brian Lehrer. \u201cThe memo was intended for our internal lawyer audience.\u201d Since you\u2019re not a lawyer, never mind an \u201cinternal lawyer,\u201d you didn\u2019t understand it. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is what I think is obvious,\u201d Bragg told Lehrer. \u201cOf course, the person that goes into the store with the loaded gun or unloaded and waves it around, that\u2019s a robbery.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, he continued, there are \u201cdangerous instruments, which can be almost anything. If I pick up a pork chop and throw it at you, that could be considered a dangerous instrument. We were trying to get rid of a category . . . which aren\u2019t the gun cases.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Nope. Let\u2019s take the memo apart, point by point. Since Bragg is trying to hide behind legalese, you\u2019ll have to read it. Bragg laid out five sections of law that cover armed robberies \u2014 and tells his staff not to prosecute them. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Robbery.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Police at the scene where a female employee was possibly fatally shot during a robbery of the Burger King restaurant located at 154 E116th Street in New York, NY around 12:45 a.m. on January 9, 2022. \" class=\"wp-image-20798379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Robbery.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Robbery.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Robbery.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is instructing prosecutors to treat robberies as misdemeanors with no jail sentences.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Christopher Sadowski<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cAn act that could be charged under PL 160.15 (2, 3, or 4), 160.10(2b), or 160.05 that occurs in a commercial setting should be charged under PL 155.25 if the force or threat of force consists of displaying a dangerous instrument or similar behavior but does not create a genuine risk of physical harm,\u201d the memo reads. <\/p>\n<p>OK, then, let\u2019s start with the first three, 160.15 (2, 3 and 4). What do those parts of the state law say \u2014 <em>exactly<\/em>?<\/p>\n<p>160.15 overall is first degree robbery, a serious felony. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n    <\/aside>\n<p>Provision #2 of this law defines a person eligible for a first-degree robbery charge if he is \u201carmed with a deadly weapon.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>#3 is for when a suspect \u201cuses or threatens the im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>te use of a dangerous instrument.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But #4 of this law is the most important. It covers <em>loaded <\/em>guns, and <em>only loaded<\/em> guns. A person faces a 160.15(4) charge if he \u201cdisplays what <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ears to be a pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or other firearm.\u201d An \u201caffirmative defense\u201d against this charge is that \u201csuch pistol . . . or other firearm was not a loaded weapon.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>To be absolutely clear: 160.15(4) mentions no other type of weapon except for a loaded gun. You can\u2019t be charged with this count unless you allegedly rob someone with a loaded gun. <\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s now consider the fourth provision Bragg included in his do-not-prosecute directive: second-degree felony robbery, 160.10(2b). 160.10(2b) says one thing, and only one thing. A person is guilty of second-degree robbery when \u201cin the course of the commission of the crime\u201d (the \u201c2\u201d section), he \u201cdisplays what appears to be a pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or other firearm\u201d (the \u201cb\u201d section), loaded or unloaded. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Robbery2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Armed robbery at empanada mama at west 40 street and 7th avenue in Manhattan. \" class=\"wp-image-20798464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Robbery2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Robbery2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Robbery2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg\u2019s soft-on-crime policies raises concerns for city businesses and the danger of armed robberies.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Peter Gerber<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Fifth and finally, Bragg tells prosecutors to drop all charges under \u201c160.05\u201d \u2014 third-degree robbery, or when a suspect \u201cforcibly steals property.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>To review: Bragg calls out five provisions of criminal law. <\/p>\n<p>Two of the provisions cover <em>only <\/em>gun crimes. <\/p>\n<p>The third covers <em>only <\/em>\u201cdeadly weapons,\u201d like knives (not pork chops). <\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n    <\/aside>\n<p>The fourth covers <em>only <\/em>the actual use or <em>immediate <\/em>threat with a dangerous instrument. <\/p>\n<p>The fifth covers <em>only <\/em>the actual <em>use <\/em>of physical force, <em>not <\/em>the threat of physical force. <\/p>\n<p>Then, <em>Bragg told his lawyers not to prosecute these crimes<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Instead, suspects \u201cshould be charged under \u201c155.25,\u201d which is misdemeanor larceny.<\/p>\n<p>In short: If you hold a gun to a clerk\u2019s face and ask them to empty the cash register, it\u2019s a misdemeanor, with a theoretical year in prison, but, in practice, no real punishment.<\/p>\n<p>What aren\u2019t Sewell, Wylde and the rest of us understanding? <\/p>\n<p>After winning last June\u2019s primary election, Bragg had six months to prepare this thing \u2014 and ask friends, foes, legal advisers, and PR experts to give him confidential feedback. \u201cYou know, Alvin,\u201d they would likely have said, \u201cpeople are going to interpret this is a \u2018get-out-of-jail-free card\u2019 on all armed robberies where someone isn\u2019t actually shot or killed, because that is exactly what it says.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>No, Bragg screwed up another way: he expected to bask in accolades for his noble progressive intentions. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Keechant-Sewell-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell\" class=\"wp-image-20798559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Keechant-Sewell-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Keechant-Sewell-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Keechant-Sewell-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell is concerned about the safety of officers, and \u201cjustice for the victims\u201d under Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg\u2019s policies.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Lev Radin\/Pacific Press\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Instead, even the Rev. Al Sharpton wanted assurance that armed gun robbers would still face felony charges. <\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, the law is an ass. Other times . . . <\/p>\n<p><em>Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor to the Manhattan Institute\u2019s City Journal.<\/em>\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/01\/11\/lets-break-down-exactly-what-manhattan-da-alvin-braggs-memo-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Let&#8217;s break down exactly what Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg&#8217;s memo says&#8221; Nine days ago, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg released his \u201cday one\u201d memo directing his staff not to prosecute armed robberies \u2014 and since then, he\u2019s gotten relentless criticism. Bragg could fix this by saying: \u201cI was wrong.\u201d Instead, he\u2019s saying: You were wrong. Everyone&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":392707,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Alvin-Bragg-7.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[123717,123566,4998,61625,5000,71617,72722],"class_list":["post-392706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-1-11-22","tag-alvin-bragg","tag-crime","tag-guns","tag-progressives","tag-prosecutors","tag-robberies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=392706"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392706\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/392707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=392706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=392706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=392706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}