Local state legislators voice opposition to bail-reform law

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the controversial Senate Bill 10 Tuesday.

Brown lauded the reform for treating rich and poor alike and fairly. Local legislators were not so thrilled.

State Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-tehama, said the bill will affect victims and bail bond companies.

“It’s a sad day in California when government will wipe out an entire profession in one fell swoop. In this case, a profession that is ensuring justice and protecting the public,” Nielsen said in a phone interview.

Nielsen said the bill will worsen the effects of sentencing realignment and create more work for local courts.

“With no obligation and no consequences, what are (suspects) going to do. Show up? They will not,” he said. “We will then be put at risk.”

Nielsen scoffed at the notion the bill’s authors had in leveling the playing field economically among the rich and poor. He said for decades, people have been able to come up with bail just fine.

“It’s not leveling the playing field; it’s eliminating justice,” Nielsen said. “One thing a society owes our victims of crime is justice to be done to the criminal … now, justice is, at the best, compromised.”

In the Assembly last week, James Gallagher, R-yuba City, voiced his opposition to the process the bill went through, saying no committees had time to deliberate or discuss it, and that it was a completely different bill the week before, calling it “the definition of insanity.”

He said contrary to what the bill’s proponents may think, the opposition believes the current bail system is flawed, but it deserves more time to work out problems.

“For those of you who are saying we’re going to solve inequities, we’re going to stop unfair detention, you may do the opposite,” Gallagher said. “And you will have no control over this because the judiciary council is going to come up with that criteria, not you.” – Rachel Rosenbaum