Waterford Today

State Representative Mike Harris has voiced concerns over proposed legislation that could significantly alter Michigan's bail system. As a retired police sergeant and member of the House Criminal Justice Committee, Harris criticized the bills during a committee hearing on Tuesday.

The proposed House Bills 4655-4656 and 4658-4661 aim to change current bail laws by reducing instances where judges can require bail for defendants awaiting trial. Harris expressed his belief that such changes would compromise public safety in Michigan.

“Letting more accused criminals out of jail without bail is a dangerous move that threatens public safety and undermines criminal justice,” said Harris, who served in law enforcement for 26 years. “Bail is a powerful financial incentive for good behavior. It encourages defendants to follow the law in our communities and then show up in court. This legislation would tie the hands of judges and release more criminals into our communities without the necessary guardrails to keep our communities safe.”

Harris highlighted outcomes from other states like New York and California, where similar reforms reportedly led to increased repeat offenses. He cited data from New York City showing nearly half of felony offenders released without bail were rearrested before their trials.

The new bills propose restricting judges' ability to demand bail unless specific evidence standards are met, promoting personal recognizance bonds instead, which do not require upfront payments.

“Without strong bail requirements, repeat offenders have caused a crime surge in other states,” Harris said. “Michigan shouldn’t repeat the mistakes of California and New York. We should keep bail options available to protect our communities while ensuring defendants and victims receive their day in court.”