The Sunday talk shows say crime is becoming a campaign issue in the upcoming elections.  It’s easy to see why.  People don’t feel safe wherever Democrats are in control.  If crime isn’t an issue for you yet, let me ask you some questions:

Why would anyone visit New York City?  A tourist from Maryland was slashed in the face and robbed in Times Square.  That’s what happens when you get rid of cash bail laws, as I’ve mentioned in previous commentaries.  There are countless stories about criminals being let go without having to post bail in New York, only to reoffend, sometimes within hours of being released.  New York also recently made it easier to get out on parole and stay out even if there are parole violations.  Crime is way up, especially in wealthier neighborhoods – by as much as 60 to 80 percent this year.  Bail reform has emboldened the criminals and city residents and tourists alike are paying the price.

Speaking of parole, the parole board in Democrat-controlled Wisconsin has run amok, freeing hundreds of convicted killers early.

But here’s my next question:  Why would anyone buy a house in Illinois?  Under a new state law, your front lawn will soon in effect become public property and the homeless can camp there any time they feel like it.  The police will not arrest them for trespass or even ask them to move.  The police will only write a ticket and leave.  My sisters live in Illinois.  They both own houses.  They’re both leaving the state.  The same new law ends cash bail after the 1st of the year for aggravated assault, second-degree murder, and other crimes.  Hundreds of defendants awaiting trial will be released.  The definition of insanity would be expecting any different result than what’s happening in New York City, but that’s the Democrats for you.

Next question: Why would anyone own a shop in California?  Theft under $950 has been reclassified from a felony to a misdemeanor.  Critics say theft and shoplifting has increased all over the state as a result.  They also say the police won’t even show up any more for shoplifting under $950 or, if they do, the shoplifters simply fail to appear in court without any consequences.  Not only that, the shoplifters can sue the store if the staff tries to stop a shoplifting-in-progress.

Why would anyone in Pennsylvania vote for John Fetterman – the guy who had a stroke and is still running for Senate.  He was caught on video saying he wants to let one-third of the criminals in prison out on the streets because, he says, everyone will be safer or better off that way.  That’s delusional.  But he put his money where his mouth is when he was on the state’s Board of Pardons where he voted to put lots of murderers back out on the streets.  Then, as Lieutenant Governor, he appointed a woman as secretary of the board who wants to “disarm the police”.  Delusions have consequences.

I also want to know when the Democrats will run out of crazy ideas for criminal justice reform.  Defund the police – remember that one?  Several cities found it completely unworkable and moved to re-fund the police as I’ve noted in previous commentaries.  In fact, the track record of this crazy idea is so bad, Democrats in Virginia and elsewhere are trying to run away from their previous support for it.  Too bad they’re all caught on video saying what they said.  Now the Democrats want to give free crack pipes to drug addicts.  The idea didn’t die when it was found out the Biden administration was supporting it and denied it.  But why do you think the Democrats’ next crazy idea is going to work out any better than their last crazy idea?

Here’s my last question: Why would anybody vote for the Democrats?  They’ve put some very bad ideas into practice, lately, where they are in power.  Defund the police, throw out half the criminal code, praise prosecutors who won’t prosecute, let everybody out of prison – how crazy can you get?

There is always criminal justice reform.  The tinkering never stops.  I know, because I was a criminal defense attorney in the 1980s.  Reform was ongoing then and has never stopped since.  The pendulum is always swinging between leniency and public safety.  The problem now is that the Democrats have gone off the deep end, and instituted the wildest reforms imaginable.  The pendulum will inevitably swing back in the other direction to public safety and common sense.  It always does in criminal justice reform, and the upcoming election is not too soon to start.

©Christopher Wright. All rights reserved.

Visit The Daily Skirmish and Watch Eagle Headline News – 7:30am ET Weekdays

The post The Democrats Have Lost Their Minds on Criminal Justice Reform appeared first on Dr. Rich Swier.