Your Vote, Your Criminal Justice System

From WNYC + Gothamist [Politics Brief from WNYC + Gothamist] 31 Days Until the General Election + [Add to Cal]( [Keep friends and family informed. Forward the Politics Brief.]( Your Vote, Your Criminal Justice System By [James Ramsay]( Right now, if you're accused of a non-violent felony in New York, you can be held in jail on $5,000 bail (the median figure in 2015). You can remain there for 500 days (the average in the Bronx). And prosecutors can withhold crucial evidence about your case until a jury has been sworn in. These three issues—bail, speedy trial, and "discovery" laws—would likely be reformed if Democrats take control of the State Senate in November. Republicans, who often align with police unions and prosecutors, say they oppose bail and discovery reform because it would put witnesses at risk. "We already are dealing with intimidation and threats at a level never seen before because of social media," Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara [told The Brian Lehrer Show](. Democrats, who side with reform advocates, argue that these rules disproportionately punish black and brown people who haven't been convicted of any crime. "We need meaningful bail reform," said Jared Chausow, of the Brooklyn Defender Services, "so that people can remain in their homes, communities, and jobs while they fight the charges against them." How Gender Remains an Issue in All-Women Races In five New York State Senate races—in Glens Falls, Syracuse, the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Orange County—both the Democratic and Republican candidates are women. Which, in many ways, is helping set aside concerns about sexism. But with the Reproductive Health Act currently stalled in the senate, Republican women may face pressure to both defend their opposition to the bill and refute charges of "betraying" their gender. ([New York Times]( Spreading the Mayor's Money Around Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, Texas House candidate Gina Ortiz Jones, and Randy "Iron Stache" Bryce, a House candidate running in Paul Ryan's district, are all Democrats facing tough races. And they're all getting money from Mayor de Blasio's political action committee. Fairness PAC, which also raises money for de Blasio's out-of-state travel, is donating to one candidate in New York: Syracuse Congressional hopeful Dana Balter. ([Politico]( Bergen County Needs a New Sheriff After Sheriff Michael Saudino resigned over racist comments he made in [a recording obtained by WNYC]( Bergen County rushed to organize a special election to fill his place. Where things stand now: County NAACP head Anthony Cureton is running as the Democrat, Hazbrouk Heights mayor Jack Delorenzo is running as the Republican, three other candidates are running as independents, and voters have about to month to decide who they want as sheriff for the next three years. ([NJTV]( Could You Pass a Citizenship Test? Only one in three citizens would be able to, according to a new survey. That means most of the country couldn't score 60 percent or higher on a mulitiple choice exam that asks things like, "Who is the Chief Justice of the United States right now?" or, "What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?" Take a sample quiz, and see if you're on par with the 91 percent of immigrants who pass. ([WNYC News]( Your Weekend Listen: No-Bail New Jersey While bail reform remains stalled in New York, it's worth noting that New Jersey changed its bail laws almost two years ago. Specifically, the state adopted a controversial, futuristic program that involves using big data to assess whether someone accused of a crime would actually be a risk if let free. The result: Almost no one is held on cash bail in New Jersey anymore. The jail population is down about 25 percent. And crime is down, too. Planet Money originally chronicled how this all unfolded in 2017. Now a classic, the episode was updated this year. [LISTEN]( [You have Questions - We Have Answers - Ask A Reporter]( Take Action [Voter Guide]( [Ask a Reporter]( [Listen]( [Read]( Support WNYC + Gothamist Make a donation to support local, independent journalism. Your contributions are our largest source of funding and pays for essential election coverage and more. [Donate]( Copyright © 2018 New York Public Radio, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: New York Public Radio 160 Varick Street New York, NY 10013 [unsubscribe]( [update preferences]( [privacy policy](