Tennessee bill could limit how many times nonprofits can post bail скачать в хорошем качестве

Tennessee bill could limit how many times nonprofits can post bail

The Tennessee Senate took up a bill Monday that would limit nonprofit bail funds to just three bonds per year. Lawmakers later sent the legislation back to committee for changes. In Hamilton County, organizers say that proposal could mean many of the people who would normally walk out of Hamilton County jail while awaiting trial would have to stay. Kate Cofelt manages the Hamilton County Community Bail Fund through the nonprofit CALEB. "There is no reason for someone who is not a threat to public safety to spend two weeks in jail waiting for their first trial appearance or court appearance." said Cofelt. She says she sees the impact of pretrial detention firsthand. "If he had sat in jail for two weeks, he would have lost that job that he had just gotten, and he wouldn't have been able to get into housing, and that would have been one more person on the street. That has no resources," Cofelt said. According to Cofelt, the fund has posted bond for 350 people since since the program launched in 2018. That amounts to around 50 people each year. But this bill, would limit nonprofit bail groups, like the Hamilton County Community Bail Fund, to posting bond for three people every year. The bill also says if someone outside of a defendant's immediate family helps pay that bond, they could face a lawsuit if that person later commits another crime. During a February Judiciary Committee hearing, the bill sponsor State Senator Brent Taylor argued the measure is aimed at preventing abuse. "Obviously, there are members of the family or an employer, somebody who has a vested interest in getting that person out of jail. Then the third group is everybody else. And what this is getting at is to prevent the gangbangers from showing up and bailing their compatriot out of jail?" In this Facebook post, bill sponsor State Senator Brent Taylor criticized certain bail funds, saying they have, “no concern about whether those folks show back up to court,” and adding, “We need to limit that wrongheaded thinking.” But Cofelt says locally, the bill would sharply reduce pretrial release options. "What's happening is people who are incarcerated while legally innocent on low low level misdemeanor charges, usually non violent charges, are sitting In jail while their lives fall apart for two weeks." As debate over this proposal continues at the Capitol, it’s also playing out on social media. One user commented on our Facebook post “yes they need a limit.” Others pushed back, asking why overcrowded jails should hold people who are eligible for bond. Tennessee House lawmakers are set to vote on the bill on March 4th. If passed, it could take effect on July 1st. _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WTVC on Facebook:   / wtvcnewschannel9   WTVC on Twitter:   / newschannelnine   WTVC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newschannel... WTVC on TikTok:   / newschannelnine_   Subscribe to WTVC on YouTube:    / @newschannelnine   Daily News Playlist:    • WTVC Daily News Playlist   For more information, visit https://newschannel9.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: tips@newschannel9.com Call the Newsroom: 423.757.7320 WTVC is a Tennessee-based station and an ABC Television affiliate with viewers in northwest Georgia, northeast Alabama & western North Carolina owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. 'Every day we will take the extra steps so our viewers are more aware, more prepared & better informed.' #Tennessee #bail #nonprofit #WTVC #News #Chattanooga #NewsChannel9 #Channel9ABC