Law on the abolition of bail in action: in New York after the 139th arrest, a thief was released

In New York, a thief who has been arrested for the 139th time has been released. He thanked the Democrats as his immediate release was made possible by state law on bail system reform. This publication writes Fox News.

About the criminal

Charles Barry, a 56-year-old thief, has been arrested six times since early 2020. However, each time he was released without the need to make a bail. This was due to the New York State Law on the reform of the collateral system, as its offenses were non-violent in nature, according to the New York Daily News. This law entered into force on January 1, 2020.

In the past, Barry served several sentences in a state prison and has a long track record, including six felonies, 87 misconducts and 21 missed trials, the newspaper reports citing court records.

“Democrats know me, and Republicans are afraid of me. You cannot touch me! You can't stop me! " Barry shouted to reporters outside the NYPD First Transit District headquarters at Columbus Circle Station. This happened on Thursday, February 13, before the officers took him to the central office in Manhattan.

On the subject: How New York Abolition Law Affects New York Crime

Following his last arrest, Barry was held in custody for approximately 36 hours pending a hearing on his charges, which was due to take place in Manhattan's criminal court on Saturday, February 15. However, he was then released - pending trial and without paying bail. He had two arrest warrants for missed court hearings related to alleged subway thefts, including a case in January in which he allegedly snatched a $ 50 bill from a woman when she tried to buy a subway card at a Bryant Park station machine.

Officers arrested Barry on Thursday, February 13, after being spotted jumping over a turnstile at Penn Station. It is noted that he also repeatedly deceived visitors to the metro, disguising himself as MTA workers and offering them help with buying a ticket before robbing them.

“I'm famous! I take $ 200-300 a day from your money! You can't stop me! " Barry shouted to reporters.

Opponents of Pledge Cancellation Law

A senior NYPD official said that due to the new bail reform law, offenders like Barry are released and then repeat the same crimes. The problem is that judges cannot order such criminals to be kept in prison pending trial. Sometimes what starts out as a nonviolent crime often turns into violence if the robbery doesn't go according to plan. “At least before that he would have been taken into custody and kept behind bars for a couple of days. He couldn't victimize people, ”Assistant Chief of Police Gerald Dieckmann, No. 2 officer at the NYPD Transit Bureau, told the New York Daily News. “When someone doesn’t pay or don’t give the money, it will turn into a robbery, into an attack.”

Supporters of Pledge Cancellation Law

But the Legal Aid Society, which represents Barry, says NYPD is using multiple cases to instill fear over the new bail reform bill. “Mr Barry's case highlights the need for economic stability and meaningful social services, not the need to roll back collateral reform,” the society said in a statement. "Bringing Mr. Barry on financially unaffordable bail or, even worse, without the right to bail, will ultimately do nothing to protect society and will not fully satisfy its real needs."