Post by overthecap on Jul 8, 2015 10:05:37 GMT -5
Just give them a city ID card and save time and police resources.
De Blasio: $17.8M program to keep poor defendants who can't pay bail out of jail
Updated July 8, 2015 10:43 AM
By MATTHEW CHAYES matthew.chayes@newsday.com
The Rikers Island jail complex stands in the foreground with the New York skyline in the background is shown on June 20,
Arrestees accused of low-level crimes in New York City won't need to pay bail under a $17.8 million program announced Wednesday to divert thousands of poor defendants from jail.
The program is expected to help about 3,000 people a year be released to be supervised in their neighborhoods instead of being sent to Rikers Island.
"There is a very real human cost to how our criminal justice system treats people while they wait for trial," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement released by his office. "Money bail is a problem because -- as the system currently operates in New York -- some people are being detained based on the size of their bank account, not the risk they pose."
Major NYC crime, 2009-2014
According to the mayor's office, about 14 percent, or 45,000 people, are detained on bail at arraignment, their first court appearance. Most of those pose a high-risk of flight, but some are accused of petty crimes and can't afford the nominal bail set.
Examples of supervision could include check-ins and text-message reminders.
The program announced Wednesday is separate from a bail fund advocated for earlier this year by the speaker of the City Council.
De Blasio: $17.8M program to keep poor defendants who can't pay bail out of jail
Updated July 8, 2015 10:43 AM
By MATTHEW CHAYES matthew.chayes@newsday.com
The Rikers Island jail complex stands in the foreground with the New York skyline in the background is shown on June 20,
Arrestees accused of low-level crimes in New York City won't need to pay bail under a $17.8 million program announced Wednesday to divert thousands of poor defendants from jail.
The program is expected to help about 3,000 people a year be released to be supervised in their neighborhoods instead of being sent to Rikers Island.
"There is a very real human cost to how our criminal justice system treats people while they wait for trial," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement released by his office. "Money bail is a problem because -- as the system currently operates in New York -- some people are being detained based on the size of their bank account, not the risk they pose."
Major NYC crime, 2009-2014
According to the mayor's office, about 14 percent, or 45,000 people, are detained on bail at arraignment, their first court appearance. Most of those pose a high-risk of flight, but some are accused of petty crimes and can't afford the nominal bail set.
Examples of supervision could include check-ins and text-message reminders.
The program announced Wednesday is separate from a bail fund advocated for earlier this year by the speaker of the City Council.
