State Senate Approves Bail Reform Constitutional Amendment

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023 -- 8:01 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) The state Senate approves the bail reform amendment.

Tuesday’s bipartisan 23-9 vote moves the proposed constitutional amendment closer to the April statewide ballot. The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the proposal on Thursday.

It allows judges to look at “the totality of the circumstances” when determining bail, according to authors Senator Van Wanggaard of Racine and Representative Cindi Duchow of Delafield.

Currently, a judge can only consider flight risk when setting cash bail, and may only set other conditions of bail in light of potential serious bodily harm, meaning injury with a risk of death.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.