Speaker Mark-Viverito Wants the Punishment to Fit the Crime

New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito is in studio on The Brian Lehrer Show February 12, 2015.

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito talks about the latest from the City Council, including legislation to provide police officers options when faced with "broken windows" offenders beyond criminal charges.

The Speaker explains the proposed Criminal Justice Reform Act, which will encourage officers to lean toward issuing civil offenses instead of criminal offenses for some quality-of-life violations, like being in a park after dark.

She says it's a "moral responsibility for us to really look and see if the punishment fits the crime."