A recent report questions the effectiveness of a New York law aimed at making bail more affordable. The law requires judges to offer the option of paying bail directly to the court, but judges often make commercial bonds more accessible, leading 78% of cases between January 2020 and December 2023 to result in reliance on bail bonding companies. This contradicts the law's intent to help lower-income individuals and families.
Experts, including Alana Sivin from the Vera Institute of Justice, suggest judges may misunderstand or intentionally disregard the law's objectives, setting high bail amounts that discourage direct payments. The complexities of the judicial process further burden defendants and their families, forcing them to make tough financial choices.
The bail reform debate has become a political issue in New York City, particularly as Mayor Eric Adams criticizes former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who signed the original legislation in 2019. Amid this political backdrop, families continue to face challenges stemming from the bail law's shortcomings. Governor Kathy Hochul has announced changes to the law, emphasizing that judges should consider the potential for violent reoffending when granting bail, complicating the narrative surrounding bail reforms in New York.
Tenney and other New York Republicans take aim at bail reform; propose legislation that would encourage changes to system | News | fltimes.com
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