Now that New York’s relaxed cash bail law is in effect, you either love it or hate the end results.
Under the new law, individuals will no longer have to post cash bail for lesser degrees of assault, manslaughter, drug possession with intent to sell and burglary.
That is absurd. Why couldn’t our lawmakers present a better option?
With our jails overcrowded with people who cannot post their bail or have lengthy criminal records, this is not the solution.
Yes, reducing mass incarceration is imperative; but allowing alleged criminals back on the street isn’t the answer.
We need to find a middle ground because judges and prosecutors need to have more of a say in who stays behind bars.
Since the elimination of cash bail there have been numerous incidents that have resulted in people being let out of jail immediately after committing a crime only to do so again.
On Wednesday, January 28, a mega drug bust in Kingsbridge resulted in $7 million in fentanyl being taken off the street and the arrest of six individuals.
Yet, before the sun came up, they were back on the street. Do you think they will show up to court? Not a chance.
Then there were eight anti-Semitic incidents in Brooklyn in December 2019, where all of the suspects were quickly released back into the community.
Are people prone to criminality going to be scared of committing crimes if they know they will be allowed back on the street the same day? I doubt it.
The bigger joke is that if they do show up to court, they will be rewarded with a host of goodies, including Mets tickets, a free MetroCard or a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card. Who comes up with these ideas?
Fortunately, as of Wednesday, February 12, lawmakers are reportedly meeting to discuss changes to the cash bail law.
According to ABC7, “Some Democrats are considering a plan that would make changes to New York’s law that largely eliminated cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies by giving more discretion to judges.”
If this transpires and judges have more discretion and power, then maybe things might be headed in the right direction.
