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of Wisconsin...here's an excerpt from those who did actually think about a reactionary law regarding crime and 'Cash Bail'...

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State Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, agreed with Republican members that action is needed, but said changing rules surrounding cash bail is not the way to do it. Goyke said he was a member of a recent legislative study committee on bail and pretrial release, which included judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, and none of them talked about using cash bail as a way to keep people who might be a risk to the community in jail.

Instead, Goyke said the committee focused on fixing an existing, but unworkable pretrial detention law passed in the 1980s.

"So, under a pretrial detention system, if the court holds the individual, they cannot get out," Goyke said. "Under a cash bail system, if the individual posts that dollar amount, they can get out — whether they are determined to be dangerous or not — if they have the money."

Goyke pointed to a 2018 case in Calumet County where A MAN PAID A $10,000 CASH BOND and was released from jail after being charged with felony domestic violence ONLY TO KILL HIS WIFE DAYS LATER. He also mentioned a 2009 case in which a former surgeon who had been charged with driving under the influence of illegal prescription narcotics and killing a pregnant mother and her daughter posted a $500,000 bond and later violated terms of his release.

Adam Plotkin is a lobbyist with the Wisconsin State Public Defenders Office. In written testimony, he said the legislation includes provisions that run counter to the 5th and 8th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. He said judges can already consider public safety, the seriousness of an offense and prior convictions when setting conditions of release other than bail.

Plotkin told WPR that cash bail creates a two-tiered system for people with means to avoid being locked up while awaiting trial while those without stay behind bars. He said that often has a disproportionate impact on people from minority groups.

"What we know from our experience is that THE MORE CASH BAIL IS USED, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE HELD PRETRIAL," Plotkin said. "And again, THAT IS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING PEOPLE IN POVERTY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR."

Plotkin said Wisconsin's bail system needs reform and expanding it is not the answer. He pointed to a nine-county pilot program being run by the Wisconsin Department of Justice that uses a public safety assessment tool that considers things like a defendant's age, whether an offense is violent and prior convictions to predict whether that person is likely to show up to court or re-offend after being released. (emphasis mine)
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So, read the whole article to get BOTH sides of the issue and realize that there is more to "Justice" than just arrests and jail time...we should NEVER totally disregard all pertinent factors...including those related to the accused...

Note that even the Charles Koch Family Foundation has been forceful in calling for a "De-Militarization" of Police Forces (Google it)...i.e. Re-Thinking of how policing should be done...which btw, is totally in line with BLM calls for Re-Prioritizing Police funding...and neither of them want to DEFUND police forces...so, IMO...NO ONE wants to go soft on crime...it's just that some of us want to maintain a BALANCED justice system.


Link: https://www.wpr.org/republican-lawmakers-revamp-push-give-judges-more-leeway-when-setting-cash-bail