Tragedies from the passage of New Jersey bail reform laws have never been more heartbreaking than what happened this month when Ronald Rebernik was released on his own personal recognizance under the NJ Bail Reform Act from a drug charge one day and killed a 1 year-old baby while driving drunk the next. New Jersey … Read moreNew Jersey Bail Reform Releases Man Who Kills Baby The Very Next Day
The debate about justice reform centers around whether or not someone who is poor should be required to pay a surety bond to get out of jail free while awaiting trial. The argument is that the person’s ability to post a bond should not depend on their ability to afford a bail bond. The so-called … Read moreAggravated Robbery is a Get Out of Jail Free Card in Travis County
Criminal justice risk assessment tools are algorithms designed to recommend mandatory release of a defendant who scores as a low risk for flight or criminal activity. In states that have implemented the tool in the last few years, the algorithm has forced judges to release dangerous people back on the streets. Robert Werth of Houston’s … Read more5 Reasons Why Bail Reform Risk Assessment Tools Are Dangerous to Democracy
After only a few months of bail reform, several sponsors of Alaska’s “catch and release” bill, SB 91, moved to roll back it’s most controversial feature: a mandatory computer-generated algorithm that chooses who must be released without cash bail before trial. The mandatory system relied on 6 data points to determine if a person was … Read moreAlaska Ends “Catch and Release” Bail Reform After It Creates Public Safety Crisis
The National Judicial College recently surveyed their members with the following question: “Should the money-based bail system be abolished?” More than 800 judges responded and 69% said NO. Bail reform rejected by judges is no surprise. Judges understand better than anyone that the bail system puts public safety first. Why is bail reform rejected by judges? … Read moreBail Reform Rejected by 69% of Judges in Recent Survey
The following news articles are proof positive of the dangers of bail reform policies around the United States. In many of these instances, defendants released on unsecured bonds/personal recognizance went on to recommit serious offenses while out of jail, creating a revolving door in county jails. Many of these stories also paint the true picture … Read moreNews Stories Document Communities At Risk Due to Revolving Doors for Criminals.