Essex County has launched a pilot program, one week after a woman was gunned down in Newark, that will help determine whether a domestic violence suspect is freed or remains in jail. The county assigned one judge to handle all domestic violence cases instead of letting other judges rule on the cases at random. The man suspected of killing 28 year old Tiffany Wilson was released twice on domestic violence charges pending trial. Wilson's killing drew a poignant response from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who issued a written statement blaming bail reform laws for putting Kareem Dawson back on the street.
The incident also prompted WBGO News to focus on bail reform on last night’s Newark Today live show from Express Newark in the Hahne and Company Building.
Baraka was joined by criminal justice experts and domestic violence advocates including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Seton hall law professor Jessica Miles, Essex County Public Defender Bill Fitzsimmons, Survive To Thrive Global Founder Chrissy Monroe, and Alexander Shalom with the ACLU.