Two men arrested earlier this week, allegedly involved in a Monday night shooting, had also been arrested in the recent past for violent incidents.
Listing case after case of repeat offenders returned to the city’s streets on bails as low as $1,000, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno renewed his call to reform how bail is set in Massachusetts, especially for repeat violent offenders. Some people, Sarno said, need to remain in jail, not make bail.
“We’re making massive raids and arrests, I know there’s due process, but if they’re bad individuals they need to be held and they need to be incarcerated,” Sarno said. “Then let it go through the justice system.”
Two men arrested earlier this week, allegedly involved in a Monday night shooting, had also been arrested in the recent past for violent incidents -- one convicted, Sarno said, and wearing a monitoring bracelet when taken in to custody.
It’s not the first time the mayor has called for a review of the bail setting process. Sarno wouldn’t say which judges he may have issues with, but says some don’t understand how urban crime works. He along with law enforcement, the Hampden County DA’s office, and the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association have long called for new legislation that would allow a justice from the state’s highest court to review case evidence and override, if deemed necessary, a bail decision from a lower court.
This report was originally published by New England Public Radio.
