Thread by @ScottHech

THREAD. If you're not paying attention, you'd think your city is burning down. Bail reform is to blame. So different from facts: 100k more people free in NYC. 99% not rearrested for violent felony. Same as before reform. More freedom + safety. More facts: amny.com/opinion/op-ed-…

Police's own data debunks them: "Even data directly from the NYPD debunked its own repeatedly recycled claim that bail reform led to a spike in gun violence. The data speaks for itself — there is no evidence linking reform to any spike in crime."nypost.com/2020/07/08/nyp…

Fact: "Less people in jail is a public safety solution. "For decades, NY demonstrated the possibility to both reduce crime & incarceration at the same time. NY saw the most crime when it had some of its highest incarceration rates. Lawmakers recognized this problem & acted."

Fact: "Let’s remember why bail reform was passed in the first place. Every year, tens of thousands of low-income, largely Black and Brown New Yorkers were held in dangerous facilities like Rikers Island. They were caged simply because they could not afford their own freedom."

Fact: "Over the last 2 years, opponents of the bail law have used it to distract lawmakers from addressing the real solutions that will have an impact on public safety – reigning in illegal guns & strengthening housing, mental health care, education, & youth job programs."

Fact: Rolling back bail reforms, or letting judges already predisposed to cruelty cage people based on their gut about who is "dangerous" is cruel, wasteful, racist, and deadly policy. "Kalief Browder & Layleen Polanco are 2 of the many who fell victim to this system."

Fact: "We can't incarcerate ourselves out of this moment. Combating real public safety concerns does not mean reverting to regressive bail policies that are proven to be ineffective & criminalize poverty."

Fact: "Combating real public safety concerns calls for investments in the things shown to improve public safety – mental health care, housing, schools, economic opportunity, community violence prevention. This will require us separating fact from fiction."amny.com/opinion/op-ed-…