editorial
Cash bail reform law needs revisions
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,12 FEBRUARY 14-20, 2020 BTR
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Fentanyl that was found in a $7 million bust in Kingsbridge.
Offi ce of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor For the City of New York
BY JASON COHEN
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 fi nd 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.
Fortunately, as of
Wednesday, February
12, lawmakers are
reportedly meeting
to discuss chanGes to
the cash bail law.
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