The Public States and Emphatic “NO” to Cashless Bail
For years we have been hearing that the public favored bail reform. We were told that proponents had conducted surveys and polls proving, overwhelmingly, that the public wanted soft on crime policies. Legislators changed the law and judges changed rules to create a more perfect and fair system. A system that did not keep people who were supposed to be innocent until proven guilty in so called “cages.” We saw California voters overwhelmingly pass Proposition 47, The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. We saw California legislators giddy with excitement as Senate Bill 10 was signed into law by the Governor. We saw New Mexico change its constitution and all but eliminating most bail in the state. We saw a Federal Lawsuit in Harris County, Texas and a corresponding consent decree that opened the flood gates for personal bonds (PR bonds). We saw New Jersey eliminate bail in a sneaky weekend special session. And most recently we saw Illinois not only eliminate surety bail, but also then pass the Safe-T-Act eliminating all “cash” bail in the state. We heard the sad story of Kalief Browder, the young teenager who killed himself because he was stuck in jail and could not afford a bail bond.
Every time we were told bail was bad and that Bail Reform would make us safer. Every time we were told that people would show up for court. Every time we were told this is what the people in this country want. And every time we were told that there was lots of data to prove and justify all this change.
But all the while, our own data was telling us something different. Our common sense was telling us that this could not be true. In California, we saw crime skyrocket because of Prop 47. We also saw failure to appears increase and recidivism spike as criminal defendants were released with FREE cashless bail (Yolo County Study). In Harris County, Texas we saw failure to appear rates as high as 82% in almost every criminal court room (Harris County Court Watch). We also saw a report out of Harris County showing significant increases in recidivism and violent crime (See details of report).
We saw zero accountability and lawlessness take over in New Mexico (New Mexico Bail Reform Failures). We saw 100s of millions of dollars poured into New Jersey’s Bail Reform efforts to only see jails fill up again, and zero changes in the racial make-up of the jail population. We heard the truth about the Kalief Browder and how bail had nothing to do with his death as his prior criminal activity made him unbailable. And now we are seeing the outcome of Illinois’ Safe-T-Act and how it has created a dangerous system of chaos and crime (Trump bans no-cash bail as Chicago’s former top detective speaks out | Fox News). Still, proponents of bail reform tell us we are safer, and tell us that the public supports them.
On September 25, President Trump announced an Executive Order on cashless bail and promises that we will no longer have to tolerate these dangerous and misguided bail policies in our communities. Not only is this a historic act by the President, but a necessary one. His announcement came with stats and data showing how crime has increased everywhere these policies have been implemented. And still, proponents disagreed. They came out with their own pseudo studies showing that bail reform does work. In the face of all common sense and reality, they filled the internet with articles and white papers showing how bail reform has not increased crime. They told us we were all safer.
And then a couple of weeks ago, in Charlotte, North Carolina, a beautiful young Ukrainian woman was brutally stabbed to death in a crowded train car. The suspect, a career criminal who had been arrested fourteen times previously, was currently out on “CASHLESS BAIL.” But proponents continued their support and their mindless chants. “Bail reform is a success.” “Bail reform makes us safer.” “The public supports bail reform.”
The Media, who has been complicit in the false narrative of bail reform, once again looked to prove that the public supported bail reform and to put any questions of cashless bail to bed. In response, The National News Desk decided to conduct an online poll (See Poll). The poll was specifically worded to get a desired answer that would show that the public is against bail. The question was worded as follows: Do you support eliminating bail for people charged with crimes?
Of course, they assumed people would say yes to this…especially after this brutal murder. But guess what? People are smarter than that. People are waking up to the lie that is bail reform. In what must be a shock to the National News Desk and the poll creator, the public did not reply “yes,” but rather, overwhelming replied “NO.” They do not want to do away with bail. They want to do away with FREE bail…cashless bail. As of the writing of this blog, 67% of the over 16,000 people who took the survey replied no, they do not support eliminating bail for people charged with crimes.
Wanting safe communities is not an extreme position. Wanting criminals held accountable is not racist. Wanting victims to have a chance at justice is not radical ideology. It is just common sense. And it is nice to see, with a little help from the White House, people waking up to the lies, and common sense making a comeback.