Bail Reform

A new state law in New York allows judges to set bail for more criminal charges than originally allowed under a sweeping 2019 reform that largely did away with cash bail for many people awaiting trial

Hundreds of prisoners released early from Rikers due to COVID concerns are being enabled to re-offend again and again without consequences, law enforcement leaders say. “We’re continuing to see people get arrested over and over and let right back out. And it really defies common sense,” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said in an interview with NBC New York. Of...

At the peak of the pandemic, the city released thousands of inmates from Rikers Island over COVID-19 fears. However, a study shows that at least two hundred and fifty prisons have been arrested after being released. Melissa Russo reports with exclusive new video.

Cuomo said he supports removing cash bail in total and allowing judges to have discretion over whether to keep people in custody before a trial

New York lawmakers and political parties, from June to mid-February, reeled in at least $360,000 from groups against the reforms, as well as almost $50,000 from a group backing criminal justice reforms

After weeks of facing heavy criticism from law enforcement over New York’s bail law, state Senate Democrats are considering a proposal to give judges more discretion over who is released from jail before trial. Among other changes being floated, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins also announced Wednesday that she wants to eliminate cash bail in New York’s criminal justice...

New York State Senate Democrats are considering a proposal to give judges more discretion over who is released from jail before trial

New York’s governor is proposing to allow counties to opt into regional lockups instead of solely operating their own facility

Critics say a man who was arrested for robbing a bank and then robbed again after being freed due to the new bail reform is the symbol for how the new law isn’t working. The I-Team’s Pei-Sze Cheng reports.

A homeless man found beaten to death behind a house had been attacked before and was planning to testify against members of the MS-13 gang at a trial

A man prosecutors say was attacked by MS-13 gang members was targeted again, and it is believed they killed him the second time. The victim was about to testify against them in the 2018 case, Authorities initially suggested bail reform may be at fault, before later clarifying that there was no link with the murder. NBC New York’s Greg Cergol...

As the city he leads saw a sharp uptick in crime last month, New York City’s mayor again called for judges to have the power to determine ‘dangerousness’ when deciding whether or not to release a defendant on bail

After some high-profile incidents allegedly at the hands of those released under the new bail reform law, there are now calls to change the state’s new bail reform laws. But advocates say it would be reactionary to already make changes. NBC New York’s Sarah Wallace reports.

A political backlash over New York’s new bail law may have dimmed some moderate Democrats’ appetite for further criminal justice reforms in 2020

Backlash over the bail law may have diminished chances of additional reforms on issues like parole eligibility, solitary confinement and police accountability

Nassau and Suffolk county officials are teaming up in an effort to find solutions in response to the new controversial bail reform law, that critics are saying lets too many repeat offenders back on the streets. NBC New York’s Greg Cergol reports.

An accused serial bank robber — who stole from a bank right after being released due to New York’s new bail reform law — surprisingly turned himself in to federal authorities in Lower Manhattan

Opponents of the new law say that recent examples show the “catch and release” strategy isn’t working, citing the case of a serial bank robber who was released and promptly robbed another bank. NBC New York’s Marc Santia reports.

A homeless man who was arrested and released after allegedly attacking a 23-year-old woman in Greenwich Village has been arrested again, police say.

As pressure from prosecutors and law enforcement mounts, NY Democrats are considering making changes to the new bail reform law