The following was written by Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller in part of a monthly editorial.

 

What happened to holding people accountable for their actions?  Recently the pendulum has swung drastically in the criminal’s favor. On September 18^th, 2023, Illinois became the first state in the country to eliminate cash bail. While, here in Michigan, a bill package to dismantle Michigan’s Truth in Sentencing requirements by allowing “productivity credits” to be earned by prison inmates toward time off their sentences is purportedly being brought to the floor for a vote soon.

People in defense of eliminating cash bail claim that by eliminating cash bail, it would eliminate any inequities in the system. Claiming it would allow people who would normally not be able to get out of jail the ability to get out. The argument is that it would even the playing field so that like those with more resources, people with less would still enjoy the ability to return to their families, jobs, and homes.

The truth is that elimination of cash bail hurts people more than it helps.  New York City did this same thing, and they have had nothing but problems since with repetitive criminal behavior. After the implementation of the bail reform, more than 72 percent of those arrested for violent felonies were rearrested. An investigation by the New York Times showed that just among shoplifting crimes, one third of those arrested were repeat offenders. This has partially led to the organized shoplifting crews we have seen locally and more publicized on the national news in California. This is a continuing and growing trend which will continue to snowball because of left-wing policies, agendas, and the left-wing mentality. There are reasons people are flocking to get out of California. It is because of the mindset of the leadership and politicians in that state.  These shoplifting crews are responsible for stealing thousands upon thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise, only to turn around and sell the stolen goods via online marketplaces. This no cash bail reform is allowing criminals to continue to victimize the public.  This is just another example of leadership favoring the bad guys over the law-abiding citizens. 

The fact of the matter is, not having any kind of cash bail leads to more problems such as a rise in violent crime. Also, a spike in property crimes, which hurts the consumers as we must bear the brunt of higher prices for goods and services. This then effects the inflation we see, which again, lands squarely on the shoulders of American families. I fully respect the ideology of people being “innocent until proven guilty.” It protects our citizens from an over-controlling government, who, without a process in place, could throw people in prison without reason or recourse in the name of safety and security. So, I understand the need for balance, but has the pendulum swung too far left?

Bail is a time-honored way to ensure defendants released from jail show up for their court proceedings. Do we really want these violent criminals released from jail, pending trials, free to commit more crimes with nothing holding over them to keep them honest?

While all eyes are on Illinois and how things work out there, we are beginning our own fight here in Michigan. House Bills 4450-4453 would establish incentives for eligible inmates to partake in job and educational training. While I am all for jobs and continuing education for inmates, so they are in a better place when they get out and can be a positive, productive member of the communities to which they are returning, I hesitate to give them time-off credit on their sentences.

The bills being introduced do nothing to promote public safety and would in fact risk it and have the potential to retraumatize victims of crime by letting their offenders, convicted felons, out of prison early. The survivors of these violent crimes deserve to have the assurance that the person who violated them will be locked up in prison for a definitive amount of time. The victims need that time to heal and to feel as though there has been some sort of accountability enforced upon the perpetrator. 

If these Bills are enacted into law, the victims of serious crimes would no longer have the peace of mind of knowing precisely how long those convicted offenders will be held in prison or when they would be eligible for parole. This would also affect the ability to effectively negotiate plea agreements.

The elimination of cash bail and reduction in time served continue to be radical changes in our criminal justice system that take the side of the criminals, rather than the victims we should be protecting. One may ask, “When is this going to change? When are our leaders going to start looking out for us?” Probably not until one of these Democrat lawmakers who support these asinine Bills becomes the victim of a violent crime at the hands of a repeat offender. God forbid. I pray that never happens to any of them. While we are praying, let’s also pray God removes the scales from in front of their eyes so they will be able to see what they are doing to this state and our great nation.

May God richly bless the state of Michigan and these United States of America.