Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters on Tuesday she wants to be guided by fact and not "fear mongering" over the new cashless bail law now in effect in New York. 

The law ended cash bail requirements for those with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. 

But it's also stirred criticism from law enforcement officials, prosecutors and Republican elected officials over the release of people pending a conviction or trial. 

Democratic lawmakers in both the state Assembly and Senate in recent weeks have introduced bills designed to alter the new, such as allowing judges to determine whether a person is too dangerous to be released. 

For now, Stewart-Cousins said her conference is assessing the options. 

"Change is hard. Change around this system is particularly hard," Stewart-Cousins said. "I want to be able sort out the fact from fear mongering."

The criminal justice law changes approved last year represented a shift in how the state approaches the issue. In addition to ending cash bail, lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to discovery law changes as well as speedy trial provisions. 

But the cash bail law has stirred opposition as more people have been released from jail. Democrats have grumbled Republicans have sought to sensationalize the issue. 

"I want to be able to look at reality and data as opposed to just reacting to whatever people are saying," Stewart-Cousins said. 

Republican Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan, meanwhile, pointed to a measure on Tuesday that advocates at the Capitol rallied for: A bill meant to jumpstart a parole process for people who are older than age 55. The bill is not expected to gain a vote in the state Senate. 

"They are tone deaf," Flanagan said of Democrats for not moving forward with changes. "They are not listening to people back in their districts. You  would think they would do something to change the horrific law."