In New Hampshire, where bail reform has taken hold in a major way, prosecutors and law enforcement officials are expressing grave concerns over the new state of affairs.
Specifically, concerns about notable inconsistencies have come to the fore, with a commission overseeing the law recently gathering to discuss the problems. The law just took effect in September, 2018, but already problems are arising.
Police chiefs are especially concerned, indicating that bail hearing now appear to be “mini trials” that have the result of keeping police off the streets and thus less able to combat crime.
Andrew Shagoury, of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police noted:
It seems like all of the sudden we’re having hearings we didn’t have before, and that’s the concern.
Advocates have indicated that the inconsistencies in the application of the law are by design, though how that’s a good idea wasn’t made entirely clear.