All too often people get swept up in movements that seem like good ideas at first but turn out to be disasters in practice. New Hampshire’s 2018 bail law is a clear example. The national “bail reform” effort then in vogue had tragic consequences for too many Granite Staters.
Thanks to Governor Kelly Ayotte’s leadership and her effective partnering with our legislature, this bail disaster is coming to an end. The Governor brought together law enforcement, victim advocates, and local leaders from both parties to rally support, and our legislature passed HB592 with flying colors. I’m a state representative who proudly voted for this measure, which after passing the House then passed unanimously in the Senate. Governor Ayotte quickly signed it into law on March 25.
That’s fast action. That’s leadership!
Across our state, communities saw violent criminals quickly let out on bail only to then see them commit more violent crimes to include sexual assault, murder, and armed robbery. Our law enforcement community was incredibly frustrated as the criminals they arrested were soon back on the streets, sometimes before filing reports were completed. Governor Ayotte heard the outcry from our law enforcement folks and the public while she was running for office and quickly signing HB592 into law demonstrates that she not only listens but acts!
Given the Governor’s history as a murder prosecutor and Attorney General, it’s no surprise that she’d take such a strong stand for public safety. By leading this team effort, she shows that she’ll always put the safety and well-being of Granite Staters first.
I was proud to stand with Governor Ayotte and vote for this law to fix our broken bail system. My constituents and all Granite Staters can rest assured that leaders in Concord are willing to take action to make our streets safer while supporting our law enforcement officers.
We hope to continue working together to keep New Hampshire the safest state in the nation.
