Sen. Steele has introduced SB 155 which would require people arrested for low level offenses, with certain exceptions, to be released on their own recognizance (i.e. not have to post bail to get out of jail pending trial.)
Requires a court to release a defendant whose most serious charge is a misdemeanor or a Level 6 felony on the defendant’s own recognizance unless the defendant: (1) is charged with a crime of domestic violence, a violent crime, or a sex offense; (2) has previously failed to appear before the court as ordered; (3) is a sex or violent offender; (4) has been convicted of a misdemeanor within the previous five years or of a Level 6 felony within the previous 10 years; or (5) has been convicted of murder or a Level 5 or greater felony at any time.
Seems to make sense. They are innocent until proven guilty — if they aren’t a particular danger to the community and not a flight risk, probably it doesn’t hurt to let them go while the case is pending. The fiscal note suggests that this might reduce local expense by taking some pressure off the county jails.
That is completely reasonable. Unnecessary incarceration serves no purpose. It is wasteful of resources and places no value on the freedom rights of the individual.
A good idea but why have exceptions (1) and (3)? If the charged crime is so lightweight as to qualify then who cares if the crime is ‘violent’ or ‘sexual’? I suspect (but do not know) that all of those crimes would not qualify in the first place.