Posted on 01/12/2020 2:40:58 AM PST by karpov
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and other backers of New York’s criminal-justice reforms want to pretend that fixing its flaws means fully restoring cash bail. Don’t buy it for a minute.
At a pro-reform event last week with Williams, Akeem Browder — whose teen brother, Kalief, spent three years in jail awaiting trial before being freed and committing suicide two years later — insisted the reforms “came too late to help Kalief.”
Added Darryl Herring of VOCAL-NY, who spent 18 months at Rikers: “Wealth should not determine one’s freedom.”
That’s true — but wealth was never really a big factor: A defendant’s finances generally figured in the bail amount. And bail bonds required defendants to come up with only a fraction of what judges set.
Besides, Kalief Browder was actually held not for lack of funds but because he was arrested while on probation from a previous case.
Yet that’s all mostly beside the point, because fixing the reform’s dangerous flaws isn’t about restoring cash bail for everyone who became eligible.
We’re not calling for that; nor are most of the many district attorneys, judges and law-enforcement folks who demand changes.
No, fixing the law is about ensuring public safety. Period.
Lawmakers need to give judges discretion to keep people accused of serious crimes locked up based on their threat to the community — especially if they’re not going to demand a cash deposit (i.e., bail) to deter them from committing new crimes and to ensure they return for trial. Bail, after all, has a public-safety dimension, even if it’s mostly meant to prevent the accused from fleeing.
Albany also needs to protect witnesses — by, for example, letting prosecutors keep their identities secret until absolutely necessary.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Serial robbery suspect freed with no bail — then allegedly robs another bank
Serial slugger (in NYC) who targeted women released under new bail reform
Thief who robbed four banks is FREED on New York’s no-bail policy, shouts ‘I can’t believe they let me out’ as he leaves custody, then knocks over another bank 24 hours later
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7877107/Suspected-robber-targeted-four-banks-released-NYs-no-bail-law-strikes-FIFTH-time.html
When you let Leftists run the judicial system, you get insanity. Which is the most favorable interpretation, there are others less favorable.
The DOJ eradicated MS13 on Long Island.
Whatever they were doing there, this BS bail eradication was intended to try to reconstitute
This is NYS....This is about money and the governors “insane” plan to save money. The idea that poor people can’t pay bail and are therefore punished more than “working” folks is ridiculous. This is about criminals....not poor people.
>> The DOJ eradicated MS13 on Long Island.
Eradicated? Unlikely.
There should be a nation-wide 3 strikes law. If you commit a felony on 3 different occasions, you're gone for life.
These people have proven they cannot abide by the rules and are of no use whatsoever to society.
Put them away or put them down.
Why do we keep giving these career criminals chance after chance after chance?
The rat agenda across the board is bringing down the foundations that held this country strong. One being the criminal justice system. They focus on it, spread lies, label it as racist and pass laws with a rat controlled council, mayor and gov to enact sweeping social justice laws that endanger the public and protect the criminals
Lawmakers need to give judges discretion to keep people accused of serious crimes locked up based on their threat to the community —
The authors of the law didn’t know to do this? Yeah, ok. Whatever.
Bail is a horrible way to figure out who would not come to court for hearings. Most people have to put their house up as collateral. The bail bondsman isn’t cheep so not only do people have to figure out how to hire a lawyer but pay the bondsman too while trying to keep the house. Has to be a better way. And yes some of the people are innocent.
You obviously must have millions around to pay for life long jail terms. It costs a fortune to house criminals. Plus, it’s not as hard to have a felony placed on you. Have a gun that isn’t allowed in New York check 1.
So what’s your solution, since you think bail sucks?
Just let them roam free and commit felonies?
You have logical concerns but it is clear at this point that it is being used to turn violent criminals back out on the street to victimize others. Bernie Goetz started packing heat when a mugger caught for robbing him a couple of years before was quickly turned loose.
Perhaps your tagline should have that Ayn Rand quote about how laws are made to make criminals out of law-abiding citizens.
Don’t let them out of jail until after trial or punishment if they are so bad.
Best solution is to hold them in a minimum security center or have ankle and webcam monitoring at home.
“Don’t let them out of jail until after trial or punishment if they are so bad.”
Japan’s system...overkill for small crimes, but yes, certainly for violent crimes or felonies!
Thanks...all I hear is bitching about bail, but it’s usually from Leftists.
How do Bail Bondmen feel about this? Their business must be taking quite a hit.
Isn’t bank robbery a federal crime? The feds are letting criminals lose without bail now?
Leftists have more family members in jail. I think that is why. Plus I think they should at least stop the house being collateral especially if they have no way of paying back the bail.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.