Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s plan to virtually end pre-trial detention for people charged with misdemeanors who can’t afford bail is set to go before the state House of Representatives.
The Democratic governor’s proposal would prohibit a judge from setting cash bail for anyone facing only a misdemeanor charge, with exceptions for people deemed by judges to be an immediate threat to others and those charged with failing to appear in court. Judges would be allowed, however, to impose conditions such as GPS monitoring.
Malloy says the plan would save the state about $15 million a year in prison costs and eliminate the unfair incarceration of poor people charged with minor crimes. On Wednesday, he released a statement saying 348 inmates accused of misdemeanors would not be in jail if his proposal was the law.
The governor also says studies show low-risk defendants are more likely to reoffend the longer they are detained, so his plan would help reduce crime.
“With each day spent in jail awaiting a court date, their ability to succeed outside of the criminal justice system declines, the likelihood they will commit a crime in the future increases, and the cost to the state rises,” Malloy said Wednesday.
Malloy and lawmakers on Tuesday reached a deal that would allow the bail reforms to pass. The compromise included the governor dropping his controversial plan to have the Juvenile Court system handle most criminal cases involving anyone 20 years old or younger. Juvenile courts now handle most cases involving anyone 17 years old or younger.
The House is to vote on the bail plan Thursday.
A Senate session on the plan hasn’t been set. Democrats control both chambers.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press