Editor’s note: Readers of the Reporter may remember a guest column published earlier this month by Nikki Sterling, the mother of a young man from Hamilton County who was shot in October by a violent repeat offender after the offender was bailed out of jail with the help of The Bail Project. In her column, Sterling called for regulation of such organizations. U.S. Senator Mike Braun is now calling for regulation as well.
Braun
U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) released the following statement following the announcement that the Marion County Superior Court would end its support of The Bail Project.
“It’s good news for Indy that The Bail Project will no longer be able to release criminals from jail without accountability,” Sen. Braun said, “but this is only the tip of the iceberg for soft-on-crime activist organizations and prosecutors putting their agenda over Hoosiers’ lives. I will continue working to hold these groups accountable and return law and order to our cities.”
Last week, Sen. Braun sent a letter to Indiana leadership and the President of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police announcing his support for additional restrictions on organizations like The Bail Project. He also indicated he will pursue ways to limit federal funding to The Bail Project and similar organizations dedicated to releasing individuals from jail without accountability.
The Bail Project and other similar organizations post bail for individuals but can skirt the traditional rules and regulations for bail agents that include responsibility for post-bail behavior and ensuring that these individuals attend court hearings.
Sen. Braun weighed in on The Bail Project after two repeat offenders released on bail paid by The Bail Project went on to commit murders in Indianapolis, and one released individual stabbed two Indianapolis Police officers this month.
Click here to read Sen. Braun’s letter to Governor Eric Holcomb on The Bail Project.
Organizations and family members who post bail for criminals with a rap sheet should be held accountable and convicted for aiding in a homicide.
Activist organizations & prosecutors don’t set bail terms Sen. Braun, judges do. Go ahead, ask around Senator.
The issue isn’t the source of funds – it’s judges allowing for bail in the case of violent & repeat offenders.
One would think a U.S. senator would possess the requisite intelligence to understand that & then encourage the State legislature to enact measures compelling judges to remand without bail in appropriate instances.
Apparently it’s more important for Sen. Braun to avail himself of the opportunity to politically grandstand following a tragedy rather than addressing the actual source of the problem.
So the ‘good news for Indy’ is that Sen. Braun is attempting to pad his resume for re-election while violent offenders will continue to be allowed out on bail as long as the dollars don’t come from the likes of The Bail Project.
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