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In 2019, New York passed sweeping bail reforms. And they seemed to be working: for the first three months the law was in effect, the state's jail population dropped sharply.
Then came news of a crime spike.
A thread on new reporting by @Jamiles. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/04/23/in-new-york-s-bail-reform-backlash-a-cautionary-tale-for-other-states?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sprout&utm_source=twitter
Then came news of a crime spike.
A thread on new reporting by @Jamiles. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/04/23/in-new-york-s-bail-reform-backlash-a-cautionary-tale-for-other-states?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sprout&utm_source=twitter
The crime figures, and their relationship to bail reform, have been disputed by advocates and experts.
But tabloid headlines and anti-reform voices in law enforcement jumped at the chance to fan the flames.
“No Bail Madness” and “Revolving Door Lunacy" blared the headlines.
But tabloid headlines and anti-reform voices in law enforcement jumped at the chance to fan the flames.
“No Bail Madness” and “Revolving Door Lunacy" blared the headlines.
Bail reform advocates were furious.
“If we had been able to give those changes time and space to take hold, I’m very confident that we would have seen how right we were,” said @ScottHech, a public defender in Brooklyn. “The problem was, we didn’t have patience.”
“If we had been able to give those changes time and space to take hold, I’m very confident that we would have seen how right we were,” said @ScottHech, a public defender in Brooklyn. “The problem was, we didn’t have patience.”
But the backlash was in motion.
Prosecutors joined the police in denouncing bail reform, and Gov. Cuomo, who had supported the initial law, vowed not to sign any 2020 budget unless the legislature rolled it back.
Early this month, they did. https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/criminal-justice/how-new-york-changed-its-bail-law.html
Prosecutors joined the police in denouncing bail reform, and Gov. Cuomo, who had supported the initial law, vowed not to sign any 2020 budget unless the legislature rolled it back.
Early this month, they did. https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/criminal-justice/how-new-york-changed-its-bail-law.html
Reform advocates in other states snapped to attention.
“New York is certainly a cautionary tale,” said Alec Karakatsanis, a reform advocate and executive director of the Civil Rights Corps.
“New York is certainly a cautionary tale,” said Alec Karakatsanis, a reform advocate and executive director of the Civil Rights Corps.
In our new story, published in partnership with @POLITICOMag, @Jamiles reports how these advocates are aiming to avoid a similar backlash while pushing for similarly sweeping reforms. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/04/23/in-new-york-s-bail-reform-backlash-a-cautionary-tale-for-other-states?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sprout&utm_source=twitter
High on their list: getting buy-in from other actors in the criminal legal system and giving them more time to roll out changes.
“I think that New York situation highlights the extreme importance of allowing time for implementation,” one policy analyst said.
“I think that New York situation highlights the extreme importance of allowing time for implementation,” one policy analyst said.
The drive to reduce jail populations is also getting an unexpected nudge from the pandemic, as many cities and counties try to reduce exposure to the coronavirus in crammed, unsanitary jails.
Reformers hope these emergency measures will stick. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/04/23/in-new-york-s-bail-reform-backlash-a-cautionary-tale-for-other-states?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sprout&utm_source=twitter
Reformers hope these emergency measures will stick. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/04/23/in-new-york-s-bail-reform-backlash-a-cautionary-tale-for-other-states?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sprout&utm_source=twitter
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