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Waukesha Tragedy Calls for Serious Bail Reform, Not Finger-Pointing

Clarence Page, Tribune Content Agency on

In recent years, that includes bail reform that reserves bail for those who pose a potential danger or flight risk — and doesn’t base it on ability to pay the cash.

Millions of people who have not been convicted of crimes end up serving the equivalent of jail terms because they simply can’t afford to bail themselves out.

Results of these reforms, accelerated by the pandemic, have been favorable overall. But a disaster like the Waukesha tragedy has lit a new fire under the law-and-order side.

I have long favored bail reforms that make freedom more affordable for many suspects, but not for those who have a record of violent crimes and who could pose a danger to the community. Darrell Brooks fits into the latter category.

I’m sure we will see further investigations and inevitable finger-pointing after the Christmas parade disaster. But most of all, we need to see some good judgment.

 

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(E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@chicagotribune.com.)

©2021 Clarence Page. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


(c) 2021 CLARENCE PAGE DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

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