New Hampshire House votes for bill overhauling bail law
Bill would require that certain violent, dangerous offenders go before judge
Bill would require that certain violent, dangerous offenders go before judge
Bill would require that certain violent, dangerous offenders go before judge
New Hampshire lawmakers voted decisively Thursday in favor of legislation to overhaul New Hampshire's bail law.
Supporters said the bill targets only the most violent and dangerous offenders.
On a 204-175 vote, the New Hampshire House gave its initial approval to legislation that would make the most significant change yet to the 2018 bail law that made it easier for offenders to avoid jail after arrest.
House Bill 592 would require certain offenders to go before a judge prior to being released.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
"We're talking about the 12 most egregious crimes," said state Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, R-Winchester. "We're talking about child sex predators. We're talking about people that have child pornography on their computers. We're talking about people that are sexually assaulting people."
Democrats fought to stop the change, arguing that those accused of crimes should not have to face the prospect of an extended stay in jail if they are arrested on a holiday weekend.
"Which means somebody who is arrested after 5 o'clock on a Friday may not see a judge until the following Wednesday or Thursday," said state Rep. Buzz Scherr, D-Portsmouth.
Scherr authored the 2018 bail law and has defended it even as cities and police continue to raise issues with violent and dangerous offenders being released.
"We don't need to fix bail reform," Scherr said.
Lawmakers who have pushed for change for several years said the original law failed, and people are dead because of it, pointing to the 2022 killing of Daniel Whitmore in Manchester.
"An Army veteran was killed on a Friday in the morning when he was walking by a pond," said state Rep. Ross Berry, R-Weare. "He was stabbed to death nine times by a person out on double PR bail, who was on bail for trying to stab someone, and he fulfilled that promise."
Law enforcement officials commended Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the House for the strong vote in favor of the bill.
"We look forward to keeping our communities safe," said Belknap County Sheriff Bill Wright.