State Rep. Brian BeGole, who serves on the House Criminal Justice Committee and has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, today expressed concern with legislation that would release more accused criminals back into Michigan communities without paying bail.

A House Criminal Justice Committee hearing featured testimony on House Bills 4655-56 and 4658-61, which overhaul the state’s bail laws and limit the circumstances in which judges can require bail as a condition of release for criminal defendants awaiting trial. This includes a defendant’s criminal history, prior failures to appear in court, or potential danger to the community.

“Every case is different, and judicial discretion is extremely important. These bills restrict judges from considering the risk posed by defendants before deciding whether they should be released back into our communities,” said BeGole, of Antrim Township. “This reckless mandate would make Michigan less safe and create a revolving door for criminals who know the system in place will go light on them.”

Other states that have enacted similar bail reforms have seen an uptick in repeat offenses. In New York City, nearly 50% of felony offenders released without bail were rearrested while awaiting trial.

“Our judges need to be empowered to make decisions that help keep our communities safe instead of being handcuffed through this type of state government overreach,” BeGole said. “This legislation will also have a profound impact on law enforcement, as there will be more cases where offenders get rearrested. This will affect officer morale and their ability to do the job effectively when many departments are already strained. These bills are a step in the wrong direction.”