Bill Overview
Title: Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act
Description: This bill conditions receipt of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program funding on certain minimum bail standards and public safety reporting. It also expands the definition of business of insurance (as it relates to crimes by or affecting persons engaged in the business of insurance whose activities affect interstate commerce) to include the posting of monetary bail, criminal bail bonds, and federal immigration bail bonds.
Sponsors: Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or affected by the criminal justice system related to violent offenses
Estimated Size: 3000000
- The bill affects states and jurisdictions receiving grants for justice assistance, specifically if they adhere to the proposed bail standards.
- Changes in bail standards can potentially affect individuals who are arrested under violent offenses, as stricter bail conditions might limit their ability to be released pretrial.
- Bail bond agents and businesses will be affected due to the expansion of the definition of the business of insurance to include bail posting activities.
- Individuals who are part of the legal and judiciary system, including public safety officers, might experience changes in protocols for dealing with violent offenders.
- Those advocating for or against bail reform, including civil rights organizations and crime victims, will be impacted by policy changes that affect pre-trial releases.
Reasoning
- The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program impacts local law enforcement budgets and resource allocation, influencing community-level practices.
- Bail standards directly influence pre-trial detention rates and can affect recidivism and individuals’ ability to maintain employment or family connections pre-trial.
- Bail bond businesses will face regulatory changes impacting their operations and possibly their client base.
- The policy could either reduce or increase public safety, which impacts community well-being and perceptions of safety.
- Civil rights advocates and organizations involved in bail reform will see changes in the pre-trial release landscape, affecting their advocacy strategies.
Simulated Interviews
Public Defender (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The current bail system disproportionately affects low-income clients, often keeping them detained regardless of guilt or innocence.
- Stricter bail requirements could exacerbate these issues, but increased funding may improve overall public safety if used correctly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Bail Bondsman (Houston, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expansion of the business of insurance to include bail bonds could impose additional regulations, increasing operational costs.
- Changes might reduce the number of clients we service if fewer people can post bail.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Community Activist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could set back bail reform efforts that aim to reduce incarceration rates for non-violent offenders.
- Stricter bail requirements could increase pre-trial incarceration, impacting the community economically.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Police Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tougher bail standards could contribute to lowering crime rates by ensuring repeat offenders are not quickly released.
- The funding can enhance department resources, improving safety measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Sheriff (Small Town, MT)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We rely on these grants to maintain our small department; any enhancements help us be proactive.
- The policy’s bailout conditions don’t have much local impact but could stabilize funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Law Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy challenges efforts to reform pre-trial release procedures, possibly increasing unjust detentions.
- It could perpetuate systemic biases, affecting marginalized communities more.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Insurance Company Executive (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy introduces new compliance requirements, which might increase operational costs.
- It could redefine competition and expand market scope but adds complexity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Court Clerk (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changing bail requirements might increase the administrative burden on courts.
- However, it could lead to improved tracking and safety measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Crime Victim Advocate (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Polices ensuring violent offenders are managed properly align with victim safety.
- Concern about the policy not adequately addressing all victim's needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stricter policing and bail laws make my family feel safer, yet could have kept my cousin detained longer as he awaited trial despite non-violent charges.
- I'm concerned about fairness and equitable justice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $21000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $26000000)
Year 3: $22000000 (Low: $17000000, High: $27000000)
Year 5: $24000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $29000000)
Year 10: $26000000 (Low: $19000000, High: $30000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- Administrative costs of enforcing new bail standards.
- Legal challenges that could arise due to changes in the definition of business of insurance.
- Potential public opposition or support impacting implementation costs.
- Long-term effects on crime rates and public safety.