A controversial new law preventing judges from setting bail in most felony cases went into effect in Los Angeles County on Sunday – raising widespread fears it will inevitably lead to an increase in crime.
Bail reform measures in southern California — similar to New York’s much-maligned criminal justice reform — have been met with a fierce backlash from law enforcement and a massive lawsuit, according to a report by KTLA-TV News.
Twelve cities in the county sued Friday to block the law — with more municipalities expected to follow.
“Once other cities in Los Angeles County find out, I’m sure we’ll get additional support,” said Glendora Mayor Gary Boyer, one of a dozen plaintiffs.
“But our big hope is to rescind the zero-guarantee policy or at least put a pause on it so that we have the ability to take a closer look and figure out whether or not this is the right thing to do,” Boyer said. outlets.
The effort, officially called the Pre-Arraignment Release Protocol, or PARP, largely eliminated the traditional bail system by banning bail for most crimes — a revival of an emergency measure first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent prison overcrowding.
A controversial zero-bail measure took effect in Los Angles County on Sunday, preventing judges from setting bail for most crimes. The move, similar to New York’s 2019 criminal justice reform, has prompted a lawsuit by 12 cities in the district. New York Post/David Buchan David Thompson (RedThink Media). 310-484-4952 [email protected] StottsLos Angeles County’s zero-warrant initiative, which went into effect Sunday, was initially implemented as an emergency measure during the COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier this year, a High Court judge reinstated the move. AP
In May, an LA judge issued a preliminary injunction that essentially reinstated the policy — with a Los Angeles Superior Court judge upholding the decision in July, Fox affiliate KTTV-TV said in a report.
“A person’s ability to pay large sums of money should not be the determining factor in deciding whether that person, presumed innocent, remains in prison pending trial or is released,” Judge Samantha Jessner wrote in a second ruling.
Supporters of the reform measure argue that it will have no impact on crime rates.
A report by the California Judicial Council determined that a zero-bail policy would actually reduce crime. The study determined that the same law would result in a 5.8% decrease in defendants rearrested for misdemeanors and a 2.4% decrease in rearrests for felonies, KTTV reported.
But critics, including lawmakers on the county Board of Supervisors, say the move has stoked fear among residents.
Critics in Los Angeles County say they fear that a new zero-bail initiative that took effect Sunday will lead to an increase in crime in the California county. The move is similar to New York’s controversial 2019 criminal justice reform. ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“Residents don’t feel safe,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger told the outlet.
“One only has to turn on the TV every morning and hear what happened the day before, whether it was a smash-and-grab, a carjacking, a burglary, an armed robbery,” he said.
“People want to know how this will affect crime on the streets.”
New York’s 2019 criminal justice reform sparked similar concerns in the Empire State, with critics citing the law as one of the reasons for a disturbing rise in crime in the Big Apple.
The law, which has since been modified to add more bailable offenses, remains a point of political debate in Albany and the subject of controversy on the state’s streets.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
