NEW YORK STATE BAIL BONDSMAN ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT MICHELLE ESQUENAZI TO BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BAIL FUN
New York, NY: Today, Michelle Esquenazi, President of the New York State Bail Bondsman Association responded to a Village Voice article where Peter Goldberg claimed that Bail Bondsmen are the reason why poor people remain in jail. Mr. Goldberg made these claims based on a report which he has sent to the Governor and the Attorney General but which he has not shared with the Bail Bond industry.
Said Ms. Esquenazi, "Over the last several years, non-profit, social justice organizations have likened bail bondsman to the "Evil Empire" in their effort to remove bail from our criminal justice system. They have spent millions of taxpayer and donor dollars trying to destroy an industry that has played an important role in our criminal justice system for hundreds of years. In states such as New Jersey, where they have succeeded in maligning our industry and removing bail, we are hearing the outcry from law abiding taxpayers who have become victims of career criminals who have already figured out a way to beat the pre-trial algorithm so that they can be released without supervision to rob, rape and murder again. June Rodgers' son, Christian, was murdered by a man who was let out without bail or supervision on gun charges only days before the killing.
"Mr. Goldberg's claim that bail bondsman are keeping the poor in jail is false. Bail bondsman do not set bail, our judges do. Our judges are equipped with the tools they need to decide who should receive bail and at what level. They can also allow defendants to be set free on their own recognizance. Bail bondsman are members of the community who are respected by the criminal justice system. Most of us are second and third generation in the industry. Our goal and purpose is to aide family, friends and colleagues of defendants to get their loved one out of jail and if needed, to provide the guidance, and help the defendant needs to remain free until their court date. We are part of the "circle of love" to help the defendant.
"Most defendants who remain in jail are there because A) they are being accused of committing a crime; B) because their family, friends or colleagues think that jail is the safest place for the defendant; C) they were out on bail but breached the condition of their release.
"The criminal justice industry is one where facts matter - even those we don't like to face. If the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund wants to truly help the poor and indigent, they should invite the bail industry to the table for some honest conversation instead of lobbing grenades. If bail is no longer working and the algorithm is clearly not working, then we need to find a happy medium. The bail industry stands ready to have those conversations. Now we need an honest broker without an agenda to get the ball rolling. We also need Mr. Goldberg to share his secret report."