Connecticut’s Proposed Constitutional Amendment Would Replicate New York’s Failed Bail Reform Connecticut sits on the precipice of disaster — that is, if the state General Assembly has its way with a proposed constitutional amendment which would eliminate the constitutional right to bail and replace it with a statewide system ofRead More →

Connecticut Legislature Set to “End Cash Bail” Similar to New York and Illinois Creating Bail Reform Chaos On Wednesday, March 22nd, the Connecticut Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee will hear H.J. 261, legislation that proposes an amendment to Connecticut’s constitution that will eliminate the right to bail by sufficient sureties andRead More →

Hawai’i Legislature Going Down Precarious “End Cash Bail” Road Again as New York Prepares to Further Roll-Back End Cash Bail Reform Law on April 1 There was a great policy debate about bail reform last year in Hawai’i that turned out to be just that—a debate.  That is because theRead More →

Florida Legislation Takes Money from Crime Victims in Order to Help Charitable Bail Project Make Their Political Point of “Ending Cash Bail” Charitable bail funds, which sprang up a few summers ago on the premise of “bailing out peaceful protestors,” are not as straightforward as you would think.  The fundsRead More →

Indiana Legislation to Require Greater Transparency of Judges in Handling of Criminal Matters “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” — Louis D. Brandeis, 1913 Senator Mike Gaskill of IndianaRead More →

Op-Ed: Illinois Supreme Court likely to rule state legislature acted hastily in ending cash bail Jeff Clayton, American Bail Coalition Excerpt from The Center Square – Jan 10, 2023 Two years ago, the Illinois legislature made a bold, politically-motivated move, voting to eliminate monetary bail, with implementation scheduled to takeRead More →

Pretrial Roadmap 2023 __________ The issue pertaining to the time-period between arrest and trial in the criminal justice system has long been debated.  The stakes could be no higher when balancing the rights of the People, victims of crime, and the safety of communities along with the right to bailRead More →

New Jersey overhauled its bail system under Christie. Now some Democrats want to roll it back. excerpt from Politico… Eight years ago, then-Republican Gov. Chris Christie teamed up with Democrats to pass a major overhaul of New Jersey’s criminal justice system, ushering through legislation that made the state among theRead More →