The Connecticut House of Representatives passed a revised version of Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s bail bond reform bill by a vote of 88-62. The revised bill was created to help reduce the population of pre-trial inmates and make changes to the bail bond system in the state.
The revised bill eliminates cash bail and prohibits courts from imposing financial terms on the release of most people who have been charged with a misdemeanor. Those charged with family violence have been excluded from the provision.
The courts are granted discretion in cases where they feel a person is a risk to not appear at a hearing. Under the reform, most people facing charges would be released with a promise that they will appear at their scheduled court hearing.
The vote was opposed by 62 members of the House, with just two of those voters being Democrat. The proposal is expected to help the state save $14.9 million in 2018 and $16.4 million in 2019. Right now, there are an estimated 3,100 people being held prior to sentencing because they cannot afford bail. Of those 3,100 people, fewer than 400 are non-violent offenders, which means they would qualify for release according to the new legislation.
Those in favor of the legislation said that they voted for it because the wealthiest offenders can buy their way out of prison even if they are facing serious charges. At the same time, poor offenders charged with lesser crimes sit in prison prior to sentencing because they cannot afford bail.
The biggest opponent of the legislation was Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane. Kane said that there needs to be clearer explanations as to why people are being held in prison prior to their trial. Kane noted that there are times where more serious felony charges are underlying the misdemeanor charges.
“The passage of this legislation by the House will help people charged with various misdemeanor crimes return to life as they know it while they await their trial,” Sean P. Barrett, of Billings & Barrett, said. “Those charged with misdemeanor crimes can now return to their families and work while they wait to make an appearance in court.”
The Senate will next vote on the legislation.
