State
Bail
Photo: Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Judges should have more power to hold people in jail before trial.
Politician
Stance
KH
Kathy Hochul
G
No change
BB
Bruce Blakeman
G
More power
LJ
Letitia James
A
Not on record
SK
Saritha Komatireddy
A
More power
TD
Thomas DiNapoli
C
Not on record
JH
Joseph Hernandez
C
Not on record
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You
Where do you stand?
Against
Not sure
For
The issue
Whether judges should be able to jail someone before trial because they might be a danger to others.
New York is the only state where judges are not supposed to weigh a person's danger to the public when setting bail. In August 2026, Republican candidate for governor Bruce Blakeman backed a bill to add that power; Gov. Hochul says judges already have enough tools.
More power
Letting judges hold people likely to reoffend would protect the public; a 2025 study found people with recent violent felony arrests were rearrested more often when released without bail.
No change
Jailing people not yet convicted can cost them jobs and homes, and a 2025 study found people released under current law were rearrested less often.
Good to know
1
A 2025 John Jay College study found 57% of people released under the reform were rearrested over about four years, compared with 66% before it. Source ↗
2
State data show reported crime rose 16% from 2019 to 2025, mostly from larcenies, while homicides hit a 15-year low. Source ↗
3
The 2019 bail law has been changed three times, each time giving judges more discretion. Source ↗
Words to know
Cash bail
Money a person pays the court to go home before trial. It is returned if they show up to court.
Dangerousness standard
A rule that lets a judge keep someone in jail before trial if they seem likely to hurt others.
Pretrial detention
Being held in jail while your case is pending, before any verdict.
Latest
WXXI News
Blakeman touts 'dangerousness standard' in setting bail, claiming crime is up
2026-08-17
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CBS6 Albany
Analyzing state of bail reform in New York as Stefanik, Blakeman campaigns commence
2025-12-10
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Queens Daily Eagle
Bail reforms have led to less recidivism, report finds
2025-10-22
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