A nugget of truth in an otherwise hypocritical Trump tweet tantrum
By Editorial Board
New York Daily News
November 8, 2019
Never missing a chance to slap around his soon-to-be-erstwhile hometown, President Trump this week attacked a bail overhaul that passed last spring.
Tuesday, he tweeted: “So sad to see what is happening in New York where Governor Cuomo [and] Mayor de Blasio are letting out 900 criminals, some hardened [and] bad, onto the sidewalks of our rapidly declining — because of them — city.”
That’s something coming from a president who legitimately touts as a major achievement the First Step Act, which sprung from prison many convicted federal felons. (Ironically, his own Department of Justice now works behind the scenes to block the release of many who should be eligible for commutation.)
Unlike the First Step Act felons, those freed in New York are innocent until proven guilty. Many are incarcerated solely due to an inability to come up with a few thousand dollars bond.
Trump makes one legitimate point. Among those inmates are individuals charged with major drug activity or offenses previously considered violent, including burglary and robbery.
Pre-reform, even though “dangerousness” never officially factored into bail assessment, judges had discretion to make sure they returned for court appearances.
The new law removes that discretion, replacing it with a list of crimes that can and cannot be considered bailable. For them, neither dangerousness nor flight risk can be considered.
That was a bad idea when reforms were rammed through in the budget and it’s still a bad idea, independent of Trump’s fearmongering mischaracterization.
3 comments:
I have arrested competent criminals who could always make bail. They planned ahead knowing some incompetent criminal would rat them out to try and save their own skin.
I realize that bail shouldn't be punishment but collateral must be put up or no one would show up for court.
The bail reform movement will eventually fail as criminals will be incarcerated for failure to appear and that has no bond status. The crime victims will eventually be heard at the polls.
"Trump makes one legitimate point. Among those inmates are individuals charged with major drug activity or offenses previously considered violent, including burglary and robbery."
Robbery is not considered a violent crime in New York?
I am inclined to agree with Trey. Assuming that most poor criminals are basically honest people who will stop their criminal activity and show up in court when required is moronic.
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