Republican Lawmakers Pushing for Tougher Bail Policies

Monday, January 10th, 2022 -- 12:01 PM

(AP) Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin are pushing for tougher bail policies after a man who is charged with driving his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee, killing six people and injuring more than 60, had been released on $1,000 bail in a domestic violence case.

There have been bipartisan calls for bail reform following the Waukesha Christmas parade deaths and details about the earlier bail amount set for suspect Darrell Brooks Jr. Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, both Democrats, announced their support for stricter bail policies last month.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported on Friday that the Republican-authored bills would require a $10,000 minimum bond for defendants who have previously committed a felony or violent misdemeanor.

They would also bar judges from setting an unsecured bond or releasing without bail someone previously convicted of bail jumping and require the Wisconsin Department of Justice to create a “bond transparency report” detailing crime and bond conditions. The bills would have to be approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Evers before becoming law.

In December, Republicans also proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow judges setting monetary bail to consider the seriousness of the offense charged, as well as a defendant’s criminal history, flight risk and public safety risk.

A constitutional amendment has to pass the Legislature over two sessions and be approved by voters before taking effect. The governor has no role. Under the state Constitution, judges can’t impose cash bail to prevent future crimes, only to ensure defendants appear in court.

Judges may, however, add conditions to a person’s bail that seek to address public safety concerns.

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