TRENTON, NJ – In New Jersey, many often blame the controversial bail reform system on Democrats. The Bail Reform Act was the brainchild of former Governor Chris Christie. Christie, a self-described Republican pushed the bill when he was governor and a Democrat-controlled legislature approved it.
It’s the act that has emptied most county jails in New Jersey and sets the occasional violent offender free after a quick pre-trial hearing. Few are kept locked up behind bars.
The people of New Jersey realize bail reform doesn’t always work as intended. While overall crime has decreased in New Jersey, there have been many high-profile incidents where violent criminals let out of jail through bail reform committed violent crimes once released.
One person who thinks it’s working perfectly is its biggest cheerleader, former Governor Chris Christie.
“You can be both tough and smart on crime. We did it in NJ, and the results prove it,” Christie tweeted this week on his view of the New Jersey Bail Reform Act.
Crime in New Jersey has gone down over the past ten years. That is indisputable. What is disputable is whether or not it’s because of bail reform. There is no statistical or scientific evidence linking the two.
After polling at zero in a recent 2024 Fox News Presidential Poll, if Christie still seeks the extreme long-shot nomination for President by Republicans, he needs take a good hard look around the room.