A Very Unsurprising Statistic

On Wednesday, Breitbart reported the following totally unsurprising information:

Felony suspects released without bail thanks to New York’s bail reform law are more likely to be rearrested for more felonies, including violent crimes, than suspects who were given bail before the law went into effect.

A study by researchers at John Jay College of Criminal Justice reviewed cases prior to the New York law taking effect and cases after the law was implemented where most suspects arrested for crimes are not required to pay any bail to be released from jail.

Overall, the study found that 47 percent of New York City suspects previously charged with felonies were rearrested for crimes — including more than 31 percent of whom were rearrested for felonies, more than 17 percent rearrested for violent crimes, and almost four percent rearrested for firearm charges.

…Of the more than 1,000 violent crime suspects reviewed by researchers, more than 72 percent were rearrested compared to fewer than 62 percent who were rearrested before the bail reform law.

Similarly, these violent crime suspects were rearrested for felonies at a more than 50 percent rate after being released without bail and rearrested for violent crimes at an almost 36 percent rate. Compare that to before the law when these suspects were rearrested for felonies at a 38 percent rate and a 24 percent rate for violent crimes.

The research on New York’s bail reform law echoes research in other states and cities that have nearly identical bail policies.

In Yolo County, California, for instance, 70 percent of suspects released without bail went on to be rearrested for additional crimes. Many of those suspects were rearrested for violent crimes like homicide, rape, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, and domestic violence.

Who would have thought that letting criminals out of jail results in more crime?

Why “No Bail” Laws Don’t Work

On Sunday, The New York Post posted an article that illustrates why the ‘no bail’ policy currently in effect in New York City does not work.

The article reports:

He’s the Grinch who stole your wallet.

A serial pickpocket with more than 30 busts under his belt was pinched again last week while targeting unsuspecting tourists at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, only to be dumped back on the street the next day, law enforcement sources and authorities told The Post.

Gary Teasley, 65 — who has been known to wear snazzy outfits, including a long dark fur coat and fashionable hat, during his alleged crimes — is so familiar to cops that they’re on a first-name basis, a source said.

Teasley is such an illicit pro that he also used to keep a storage locker with stolen wallets and other goods — and a detailed record of the heists, broken down by location and category, sources said.

The article notes:

Teasley was arrested Friday after police said they spotted him unzipping the woman’s purse and reaching inside, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

“We caught him red-handed,’’ a source said. “We called him by his first name. We said, ‘Hey, Gary, don’t give us a hard time.’ We’ve arrested this guy so many times, we’re on a first-name basis.

“He knows the deal, he was saying, ‘DAT, [desk appearance ticket],’ the whole bail-reform thing.

He’s “a very sharp guy, $1,000 suits, skilled at his craft,” the source said. “A wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Teasley was hauled into court Saturday on charges of fourth-degree attempted grand larceny and “jostling.” He was released without bail.

Prosecutors had asked that he be released but with supervised restrictions, a rep for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Sunday. The judge denied the request.

“I’ve personally been arresting him for 20 years,’’ a police source said. “These guys are all coming out of the woodwork around the tree.’’

I think it’s time to re-examine the consequences of the ‘no bail’ law.