NH Lawmakers: Support Bail Reform

Act Now

People shouldn't sit in jail just because they can't afford bail – and that's why in 2018, New Hampshire passed important reforms to prevent that.

But right now, New Hampshire lawmakers are deciding on a number of bills that would roll back those important reforms – including Senate Bills 249 and 252. If enacted, they would carry a huge human toll, a staggering financial cost, and move decisions of someone's freedom, that should belong to the court, into arbitrary, one-size-fits-all laws.

And these efforts to roll back bail reform are based in fear, not fact. What the facts and data say are that crime has been significantly down in New Hampshire every year since the bail reforms were passed – and, the bail reforms in place right now allow a judge to incarcerate pretrial anyone they find to be a danger or flight risk.

This legislation would also expand the already disproportionate incarceration of Black people in our state, because our laws are already enforced with a staggering racial bias. For example, in 2020 Black people were 3.29 times more likely to be arrested compared with white people. It is unconscionable that legislators would expand the already disproportionate incarceration of Black people in New Hampshire.

There's no time to wait: tell your state representative(s) and senator to oppose these bills when they come to a committee or floor vote.

You can also tell them to support HB 46, which would study how to strengthen our bail system.

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As your constituent, I urge you to oppose SB 249 and SB 252 - the bills that would roll back the important reforms made to New Hampshire's bail system. If passed, these bills would needlessly incarcerate more Granite Staters at a staggering financial cost.

Message Body

This type of legislation flips "innocent until proven guilty" on its head, by presuming guilt and keeping people behind bars. According to the state's own data, crime is significantly down since bail reforms were passed in 2018, which makes it clear that not only is rolling back bail reform based on fear and not fact, but it will not make our community safer.

This is also a racial justice issue: with Black people in our state 3.29 times more likely to be arrested, this bill would disproportionately harm our communities of color. It is unconscionable to expand the already disproportionate incarceration of Black people in New Hampshire.

Last, I am concerned by the human cost that would be brought by these bills. When a person is detained before their trial for even a short period of time, they face job loss, housing loss, or even losing custody of their children. This legislation would subject potentially thousands of Granite Staters to these devastating collateral harms.
Current law already allows the court to detain any individual pretrial and challenge a release order the state disagrees with. Please oppose SB 249 and SB 252.

I also urge you support HB 46, which would study how to strengthen our bail system.

Thank you, and please vote to support bail reform.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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NH Lawmakers: Support Bail Reform

Act Now

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