Now this seems to be a big step in the right direction, and I'm hoping it works out. NYC to eliminate bail for non-violent suspects, keep them out of Rikers Island July 8, 2015 Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) - Thousands of New Yorkers accused of low-level or non-violent crimes won't face the prospect of raising cash for bail under a plan that seeks to keep such suspects out of the troubled Rikers Island jail complex. The $18 million city plan, detailed to The Associated Press ahead of the announcement on Wednesday, allows judges beginning next year to replace bail for low-risk defendants with supervision options including daily check-ins, text-message reminders and required drug or behavioral therapy. Bail has long been criticized by inmate advocates for unfairly targeting poor people. And reforms were recommended by a mayoral task-force last year after the AP reported on the case of a mentally ill homeless man who was unable to make $2,500 bail for trespassing and died in a sweltering hot Rikers cell. More calls for reform gained traction after the suicide last month of 22-year-old Kalief Browder. When he was 16 years old, Browder was unable to make $3,000 bail on charges he stole a backpack. He ended up being held in Rikers for three years, beaten by inmates and guards alike and held in solitary confinement before charges against him were eventually dropped. "I think the basic principle is that Kalief Browder and other cases have begun to signify this (need for reform) in the public eye," said Elizabeth Glazer, the mayor's criminal justice coordinator. "We want to focus on risk to be the determining factor to decide if someone will be in or out; and it has to be risk, not money." Currently, about 41 percent of criminal defendants who pass through New York City courts annually are released on their own recognizance and another 14 percent, or 45,500 people, are held on bail. About 87 percent of the 1,100 people on supervised release in already-existing city pilot programs return to court when they're supposed to, officials said. Initial funding, provided by the Manhattan district attorney, allows for as many as 3,000 defendants charged with misdemeanors or non-violent felonies to bypass bail, letting them live with their families and keep their jobs while their cases wind through the courts. Officials say they would like to expand the program to include thousands more. Releasing defendants to community supervision based on so-called risk-assessment tools that gauge a person's threat to public safety is increasingly done in cities and states throughout the country. About 10 percent of state, county and city courts currently use some such tool to decide if a defendant's too risky to be released or who qualifies for some level of supervision, according to the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, which created its own risk instrument that's used in Arizona, Kentucky and New Jersey as well as in cities such as Charlotte, Chicago, and Phoenix. Washington, D.C., also is considered a model for eliminating bail, though it still detains pre-trial offenders deemed too dangerous to be released back in the community. But in New York, unlike most states, efforts to fully do away with bail are complicated by state law, which requires judges to consider defendants' risk of flight, not their risk of reoffending, when determining bail conditions. Glazer said she hoped legislators would consider changing the law, a move supported by the state's chief judge, Jonathan Lippman, who said in a statement alternatives to either jail time or no supervision at all "are critical steps in reducing overreliance on bail." http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/07/08/apnewsbreak-nyc-to-eliminate-bail-for-non-violent-suspects
I wonder if Jon Oliver had any influence on this. It was only like two weeks ago that he had a huge report on bail and one of the biggest culprits that Oliver criticized was Rikers island. It probably isn't directly related but weird coincidence. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IS5mwymTIJU
I try to catch his show too, he does some good reports.. and was going to post that. There have been a few reports that he did that I chalked it up to coincidence, but seemed like things he talked about started moving along. Probably just the right timing on issues that people are pushing for already, just bringing it to light for others.
Probably more coincidence than anything but I definitely think he has some major influence. Especially when he talked about very kind of unknown topics like when he talked about chicken farmers for example. His show is definitely worth checking out even if you don't agree with him politically which I don't always, he's very entertaining.
I'd guess this has been in the works before Jon Oliver reported this on his show. It takes time for research and planning before these things are announced. Oliver's staff probably knows someone who gave him the info so I don't know if "coincidence" is the right word, "well connected" would probably be more accurate, IMO. Bail has always been unfair and my acquaintances that needed bail but couldn't post it have sat in jail on the taxpayer's dime while they lost their jobs and couldn't make payments on their cars or pay the rent while I spent about 3 hours in holding until I could post the $30,000 cash bond. The current system takes none of that into account. Cash is king in the "justice" system.
It's fucking obscene how much taxes in New York. The fact that they're still locking up non violent criminals is proof just boggles my mind. We have a BIG justice system issue in this state.
Not just non violent offenders. I believe as much as 30 percent of people in the prison haven't even been convicted of a crime. So a good amount could be innocent.
There was a few stories regarding young black men who were in rikers without ever being charged for a crime. Absolutely illegal, but they don't have the money for good lawyers.
Yea dude just killed himself recently. This is what he went through. It's a foul game they play and they set alot of people up to be at rikers waiting months for a trial.