BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein found GUILTY. And for the last 2 years, despite the seriousness of the allegations, he was released instead of jailed pre-trial. And none of the prosecutors, police, GOP lawmakers, or sensationalized press now fearmongering over bail reform said a word.
Please visit JusticeNotFear.org to demand that state lawmakers reject misleading & exploitative fear over modest reforms that reduce the jailing of people--predominately Black & Latino--charged with significantly less: misdemeanors & non-violent felonies.
The process afforded to the privileged is not afforded to the majority of people arrested. It’s not that I & other public defenders opposed Weinstein at liberty. It’s that the process available to them is never available to the people we represent.theintercept.com/2018/06/09/pau…
When Weinstein was released pretrial, I wasn't mad at his treatment. Bail worked like it was supposed to. As an incentive not a punishment. Took into account his ability to pay. Judges just do not give those I represent the same treatment.
Last year New York lawmakers finally listened to reason & took action to start to address inequality. While those like Weinstein charged w/ violent felonies could still be held, no bail for misdemeanors/non-violent felonies. Judges couldn’t be trusted to impart pretrial justice.
We don't need to guess whether bail reform will work. It is. For years, the Brooklyn DA has been practicing what the bail law now requires: In the same period, not only were Brooklyn’s streets not filled with blood, the violent crime rate has plummeted. nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-ope…
The real story of bail reform in NY is families together; fostering jobs & productivity. Help instead of hurt. Saving taxpayer money. Safeguarding health, freedom & public safety. An overwhelmingly likely (95%) return rate & unlikely (2%) re-arrest rate for violent felonies.
Despite the overwhelming good--for justice, fiscal responsibility, safety--fear is working. News out today is that only 1/3 of New Yorkers think the law is doing "good." The result of news media to cooperate in a statewide campaign of public fearmongering. theintercept.com/2020/02/23/cri…
And now even NY Senate Democrats are bowing to the forces of fear. Pushing "new" proposals to give judges *more* discretion to jail people than before. Allow them to consider a person's "dangerousness" & then remand them. Akin to racial profiling at the pretrial stage.
