Why Can’t We Stop Backtracking on Bail Reform?

Rights This Way · Jun 1, 2023 · 37m

In April, New York state lawmakers rolled back reforms to the state’s bail laws. If that sounds familiar, it’s because bail reform has now been rolled back three times as a continuous drumbeat of “tough on crime” rhetoric from the media and politicians has paved the way for more and more backsliding. Why does this keep happening? What role do narratives around bail and public safety play in creating an environment where these bad legislative outcomes seem inevitable? How can we stop this dynamic from repeating and what exactly did lawmakers do this time around?

We cover all of this with two…