New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced a framework compromise between the state’s district attorneys and legislative leadership regarding the state’s discovery laws. 

Discovery is the formal process of exchanging information about witnesses and evidence between the prosecution and the defense in a case that they’ll present at a trial. It’s been amended multiple times since it overhauled in 2019. 

It’s not yet clear if the governor supports the compromise, but she is aware of the agreement.

"It has been a lot of give and take over many weeks and the District Attorneys Association overall, and in particular, spending a lot of time with our five downstate district attorneys because they have the highest volume of cases in our system, so their voice has been important in this, as well as making sure we hear from the voices of everyone effected by this, so I believe there's conversations going on as we speak, which is why I'm anxious to get back to the Capitol. That there could be a resolution in sight,” she told a reporters at an event Tuesday in Kingston.

In the lead-up to the compromise, Hochul had pulled out all the stops to ensure that changes to the laws that she supports were included in the state budget. 

On Monday, she highlighted a trio of reports from the state’s Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence showing that 94% of domestic violence cases in New York City are dismissed, an increase of 26% since the discovery laws were initially changed in 2019. 

Capital Tonight was joined by Kelli Nicholas Owens, the executive director of the state Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, to discuss the findings of her office’s reports. 

If you need help, or don’t feel safe at home, the state provides a variety of ways to reach out. You can call the State’s sexual and domestic violence hotline at 800-942-6906 or text them at 844-997-2121.