Panel discussion to examine hot-button topic of bail reform
A panel discussion offering a deep dive into the controversial topic of bail reform in New York state – analyzing the media’s spin on statistics behind those released without bail who go out and commit more crimes – will be held at the Williams Center Room S204 on Wednesday, April 19, from 1 to 2 p.m.
The panel will be comprised of Department of Sociocultural and Justices Sciences Assistant Professor Jessica Finkeldey; Alexandra Harrington, associate professor and director of the Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic and director of the Innocence and Justice Project, all at the University at Buffalo; and Abbey DiRusso, a SUNY Fredonia senior majoring in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Sociology, and a graduate of Fredonia High School.
Sponsors of the discussion are the American Democracy Project and Criminal Justice Club, both of SUNY Fredonia, and the League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County.
“The information that has been in the media seems to center on anecdotal evidence regarding those who were released without bail and have allegedly committed more crimes. We are looking to find out if that is statistically accurate or not,” said Marcia Westling-Johnson of the League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County.
Panel members will present an overview of bail in New York state, bail reform laws that were enacted in 2020, and proposed reforms of bail made so far in 2023. Discussion will also cover assessments of the effectiveness of bail as well as the harms of pre-trial detention, particularly among those who are unable to make bail. The goal of the panel is to enhance participants’ abilities to discern different types of bail and to understand the implications of recent changes to the bail system in New York.
Attendees will be introduced to reliable assessments of bail with data from criminal justice agencies as well as empirical research on the topic. Another hope is that by attending the event, the audience will become well-informed voters on topics surrounding bail and bail reform.
Organizers believe the panel discussion will be of interest to students, faculty, staff, and community members who would like to improve their understanding of bail. The panel is free and open to the public.
Cookies and lemonade will be available. Prior to the discussion, the league will host a voter registration drive outside the venue from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
The American Democracy Project’s goal is to educate students to become engaged in civic issues through participatory democracy as well as to encourage students to become well-informed voters and to appreciate the impact that voter participation can have. The League of Women Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization in the United States founded in 1920. Its ongoing major activities include registering voters, providing voter information, and advocating for voting rights.
