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Tuesday, December 24, 2024

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Bill Clinton is hospitalized for observation and testing after developing a fever; Biden commutes most federal death sentences before Trump takes office; Proposed post office 'slowdown' threatens rural Americans; Report: Tax credits shrink poverty for NM kids, families; Tiny plastic pieces enter the body in ways you'd never think of.

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Biden commutes the sentences of most federal death row inmates, the House Ethics Committee says former Rep. Gaetz may have committed statutory rape, and the national archivist won't certify the ERA without congressional approval.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

How Alabama bail reform could transform justice system

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Thursday, September 26, 2024   

As Alabama lawmakers look at bail reform, a new report outlines how eliminating cash bail could impact the state and beyond. House Bill 42, sponsored by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, would allow judges to accept a percentage of bail for people wanting to be released from pretrial detention.

Ames Grawert, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, and report co-author, noted that critics often blame bail reform for rising crime, but data show no direct link. He believes that moving away from cash bail and exploring alternatives could lead to a fairer justice system.

"Even if someone is able to secure a bond, like a bail bond, rather than pay the amount of money required by the court outright, those bonds can often come with very high non-refundable fees. And those fees on their own can be fairly devastating to a family living on the edge," he said.

Grawert added that data show people of color frequently face higher bail amounts.

The study also highlights how bail reform could help reduce the collateral damage of incarceration, which often limits access to essential services and increases the likelihood of recidivism. Grawert noted that states such as New York have already seen success with their bail-reform efforts.

"These sort of pretrial supervision services can be very successful in helping reduce unnecessary pretrial detention while preserving public safety. The catch is they have to be adequately funded. They have to have professional staff, and that can't be taken for granted," he continued.

The report urges policymakers to invest in alternatives to cash bail and provide support for pretrial services such as supervision programs as well as increased access to mental-health and substance-abuse treatment.


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