“We’ve thrown jail at every problem for so long. We know now that we were wrong. It doesn’t enhance safety. It does the opposite, & costs a fortune,” siphoning $$ away from housing, mental health, drug treatment. My statement quoted by NYT Editorial Board: nyti.ms/2IJByzZ
NYT Ed Board rejects safety rationale of pretrial detention: ”Social/economic cost of the incarceration is high, & has been disproportionately borne by black & Hispanic communities. Research shows incarceration had little to do w/ crime decrease, & may have contributed to crime.”
NYT Ed Board praises “major” pretrial justice reforms, inc bail: “Most people charged w/misdemeanors & nonviolent felonies will be released w/o being required to pay bail. Judges will have option of sending those charged w/ violent felonies to supervised release in some cases.”
NYT Ed Board calls out “naysayers” who “stubbornly argue” against decarceration. Like former Police Chief Bratton. “What you have is a lot of, unfortunately in many instances, very dangerous people.” NYT: Wrong. “Nearly all jailed return to their communities, often w/n a year.
