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.

Message Recipient(s):
Your State House Representative(s)
Your State Senator

Note: if you have more than one state representative, this will send the email to each of them.

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Your Message
Use the form to send a message to your legislator.

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.

Thank you, and please vote to support bail reform.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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