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Today's Poll: Should the state eliminate setting bail for criminal suspects accused of non-violent felonies?

By Howard B. Owens
Howard B. Owens

This seems just asking for unforeseen, negative, unintended consequences, and Cuomo, like many people, doesn't seem to understand the purpose of bail. Being held on in jail is not punishment. It is a method to assure appearance for future court dates.

The rule of law means that both sides in a case get due process -- the people and the defendant. If defendants can easily skip appearances then due process is not served.

The current bail system uses a point/scoring system to help determine who should get bail and who should be released and what constitutes a proper bail amount. The system seems to be working just fine. I'm not sure I see what problem Cuomo is trying to fix.

Jan 16, 2018, 2:28pm Permalink
david spaulding

I'll bet it's got something to do with ICE .. Cuomo loves the immigrant, legal or not, he has seen to it that the illegals have the best council the taxpayer can afford. No bail and the illegal can, well immigrate somewhere else...plausible eh?

Jan 16, 2018, 5:55pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

The thing Prince Andrew (who would be King) can't comprehend is that bail is used for two purposes: To assure reappearance in court AND to reduce the likelihood of CONTINUED IMMINENT criminal activity by the accused. Let me explain.

Joey not too stable (at the moment) commits a non-violent crime. All during his arrest and processing he shows that he hasn't yet run out of angst that he feels he needs to express. It is obvious to all who are in contact with him that, once released, he is going to cause pain and annoyance to whomever he next contacts. It is better for him, for society and for law enforcement if he spends some time cooling off in a safe place (Both for Joey and society).

But, if you are an elitist moron living in a secure compound in Westchester County none of the above matters. You can appeal to the feelz of your constituents by virtue signaling that you understand how unfair being kept from continuing your criminal conduct is.

At what point do these elitist fools realize that real people suffer when they take actions that advance their utopian ideology against all common sense and actual experience?

Oh, sorry. Progressivism vs. "ist", "ic" and "ism", no dissent is allowed. My bad.

Jan 16, 2018, 8:02pm Permalink

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