How fear spreads. In the midst of a misinformation campaign by police/prosecutors, this headline makes it sound like bail is to blame. Reality: Judges set over $100,000 bail on violent felony charges which weren’t close to being covered by bail reform. 
It also appears as though the prosecution had yet to officially charge the underlying cases by securing an indictment or presenting sufficient evidence before grand jury. Both open cases appeared to be on track for dismissal.
Bail reform in NY represents exceptionally modest, commonsense change that only affects misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. If you’re charged w/ a violent felony, judges still maintain all their power to cage you on Rikers Island or other horrific, dangerous NY jails.
Bail reform in NY has been extraordinarily successful: Of all those charged w: misdemeanors or non-violent felonies who could’ve previously been caged on Rikers, less than 2% rearrested on crimes of violence. The exact same as before bail reform. Huge human & fiscal cost avoided.
Last note: even though violent felonies aren’t covered by bail reform, when people charged w/ violence are released or pay bail, they are by far the *least likely* to be rearrested for crimes of violence. The reality of bail in NY is exactly the opposite of what you read in news.
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