Washington, D.C. — With midterm elections fast approaching, Republicans are falsely blaming bail reform for rising crime nationwide. But their arguments could not be further from the truth. According to a new column released today by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, New Jersey—a state that successfully ended cash bail—is a prime example that bail reforms can actually reduce or have no effect on crime. Meanwhile, crime in GOP-led states with weak gun laws continues to soar.
“Despite what Republicans claim, the data clearly show that talking tough on crime doesn’t equate to crime prevention,” said Jerry Parshall, senior director of the Safety and Justice Campaign at CAP Action. “These governors should focus on passing critical gun safety legislation that keeps dangerous weapons off the street rather than criticize evidence-based reforms that make communities safer.”
Republican governors, including Brian Kemp (GA), Ron DeSantis (FL), Mike DeWine (OH), and Greg Abbott (TX), have pushed the false narrative that ending cash bail is bad for public safety. In reality, however, the crime rates in their states are far higher than the crime rate in New Jersey: In 2020, the murder rate per 100,000 people in New Jersey was 3.70, compared with 5.97 in Florida, 6.64 in Texas, 7.00 in Ohio, and 10.50 in Georgia. And while the United States experienced a 4.7 percent increase in violent crime in 2020, New Jersey experienced a 5.5 percent decrease.
Click here to read: “Republican Governors Criticize Bail Reform While Crime Rises in Their States” by CAP Action
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Tricia Woodcome at [email protected].