Prosecutors & police have launched a media offensive against new bail changes in NY. Instilling fear about public safety.
The truth: “Those jailed for more than a month were 74% more likely to offend than those who were released within 24 hours.”slate.com/news-and-polit…
The truth: “Those jailed for more than a month were 74% more likely to offend than those who were released within 24 hours.”slate.com/news-and-polit…
“People held in jail pretrial start to lose ground even after just a few days of incarceration: May lose jobs, fail to make rent, or have children taken away. Maintaining stability & community ties are crucial to keep from falling back into the cycle of arrest & incarceration.”
“The new law changes nothing for the most serious cases: Judges may still require a bail payment to release people accused of most violent felonies, all sex-related charges, & some domestic violence offenses. These offenses currently represent 10% of cases.”
“Remaining 90% of cases each year are misdemeanors & nonviolent felonies. In most, defendants will be released w/o having to pay bail. If someone truly poses a danger or flight risk, judges can still set restrictions on release, like supervision or electronic monitoring.”
“This is hardly the “sky is falling” scenario that the law’s opponents are trying to sell in the media. But playing on people’s fears about crime is a tried & true political tactic. Some lawmakers are already promising to campaign against the law.”
“The cost of the former status quo should not be dismissed. The old system led to the incarceration of thousands of poor, low-risk New Yorkers—all legally presumed innocent—until their cases were resolved, which could take months or years.”
“NY’s law is a welcome first step toward making New York’s pretrial system one that relies on facts instead of fear. While there will be continued attempts to undermine the new law, a few sensational news stories shouldn’t undermine a smart reform that is long overdue.”
