Bill Overview
Title: Concerned Citizens Bill of Rights Act
Description: This bill requires state and local governments, as a condition of certain grant funding, to annually (1) report on any of their policies that result in a lack of law enforcement or prosecution of criminal offenses, and (2) certify that they do not have any policies that prohibit money bail for felonies or violent misdemeanors.
Sponsors: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by policies on law enforcement, prosecution, and money bail for felonies or violent misdemeanors
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The bill affects policies related to law enforcement and prosecution of criminal offenses, thus impacting individuals who may be involved in or affected by the criminal justice system.
- Individuals who are unable to post bail typically include low-income individuals, affecting their ability to remain free pending trial.
- The bill focuses on policies related to money bail, specifically affecting individuals charged with felonies or violent misdemeanors. These individuals' liberty could be directly impacted.
- The bill indirectly affects families and communities of individuals involved in the criminal justice system, as their well-being is tied to the fate of those individuals.
- The bill affects state and local governments, requiring them to adjust their policies to align with the bill's conditions to receive grant funding.
Reasoning
- The population affected includes individuals directly impacted by the criminal justice system, particularly those unable to post bail for felonies or violent misdemeanors.
- Low-income individuals are likely to experience the greatest impact due to financial constraints related to bail requirements.
- Family members of these individuals can also be affected as they support incarcerated relatives or adjust to changes in household dynamics.
- Those involved in advocacy or legal professions related to criminal justice reform may have strong opinions about such policies.
- The Cantril wellbeing scores are useful to measure the overall life satisfaction and could indicate how much the policy impacts perceived well-being across different timelines.
Simulated Interviews
Construction Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The requirement to have money bail makes things harder for people like me who can't afford it.
- If I could be out on bail, I wouldn't lose my job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Public Defender (Austin, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The bill could lead to more people staying in jail pre-trial simply because they can't afford bail.
- It's frustrating to see financial constraints impacting justice.
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 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy might deter crime in my neighborhood.
- But I'm concerned about how it affects families like mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Police Officer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring there's accountability through bail makes sense.
- We need support to maintain public safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
College Student (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We need to rethink how bail impacts people's lives unfairly.
- This policy might worsen things for underprivileged communities.
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 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Stay-at-home Mom (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy could help keep dangerous people off the streets.
- But, I worry about good people being trapped in jail due to bail they can't pay.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Social Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Money shouldn't determine freedom, but safety is important too.
- We need a balanced approach that doesn't disadvantage the poor.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
High School Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think policies like this are important for safety, but I worry about fair treatment.
- I want to see more justice, not just tougher laws.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The way we do bail needs reform, but ensuring accountability is crucial.
- I see this policy as a step to balance safety and justice.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Entrepreneur (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about crime affecting my business.
- Hopefully, this policy ensures those arrested face trial promptly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 5: $21000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $26000000)
Year 10: $23000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $28000000)
Year 100: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $35000000)
Key Considerations
- The compliance requirements are projected to drive short-term administrative costs for state and local governments.
- Federal grant dependencies may encourage broad compliance, potentially causing shifts in state or local bail and law enforcement policies.
- Potential indirect economic impacts on communities dependent on released individuals employed and contributing to the economy post-bail should be examined further.