Legal News

New Law in New York Allows Nonprofits to Post Bail for the Poor
Download PDF
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

On Wednesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new legislation that would allow nonprofit groups to post bail for poor defendants charged with minor crimes. The new legislation exempts “charitable bail” organizations from stringent licensing requirements applicable to for-profit bail-bond businesses. For-profit bail providers either charge high interest or require collateral to post bail for criminal defendants.

According to proponents of the bill, the nonprofit groups make it onerous to should licensing fees and other costs and do not seek to recover the bail they pay.

The bill was in response to a report made by the Human Rights Watch in 2010 that found 87 percent of defendants in New York City, whose bail was set below $1000, were unable to post bail. On an average, such poor defendants spend more than two weeks in jail while waiting for trial for minor offenses.

  
What
Where


According to supporters of the bill, the period of incarceration has a much more devastating effect than could be conceived because of non-payment of paltry bail amounts. The incarceration usually costs defendants their jobs and puts enormous strain on their families, even without conviction or trial.

In a statement announcing the signing of the bill, Governor Andrew Cuomo said “It is unacceptable for defendants to have to spend time in jail for low-level crimes they may have not committed simply because they are unable to meet the bail requirement.”

The new legislation would allow nonprofit groups registered with the state to post up to $2000 bail for defendants charged with low-level crimes like misdemeanor, and who cannot afford to pay the bail money.

Get JD Journal in Your Mail

Subscribe to our FREE daily news alerts and get the latest updates on the most happening events in the legal, business, and celebrity world. You also get your daily dose of humor and entertainment!!




The state’s financial services department will be regulating the organizations. Previously, a nonprofit named the Bronx Freedom Fund had posted bail for nearly 200 people between 2007 and 2009. However, a state judge shut them down holding such activity by nonprofits violated the law, as there was no regulation that allowed nonprofits to post bail for the poor.





 

RELEVANT JOBS

Associate Attorney

USA-PA-Exton

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY McKenna Snyder LLC, a law firm in Exton, PA has an immediate opening for an ex...

Apply now

Attorney

USA-MI-Sturgis

Qualifications: HaasCaywood is seeking associate attorneys for our Coldwater and Sturgis, Michiga...

Apply now

Attorney

USA-MI-Coldwater

Qualifications: HaasCaywood is seeking associate attorneys for our Coldwater and Sturgis, Michiga...

Apply now

Insurance Defense Trial Attorney/ Senior Counsel

USA-CA-San Francisco

Job description Trial Attorney - Personal Injury Defense Full Job Description Hickey Smith ...

Apply now

BCG FEATURED JOB

Locations:

Keyword:



Search Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with ...

Apply Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-Carlsbad

Carlsbad office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with 4-...

Apply Now

Education Law and Public Entity Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law and public ent...

Apply Now

Most Popular

SEARCH IN ARCHIVE

To Top