LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rapper Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, recently asserted that Los Angeles is ‘finished’ after the reinstatement of the city’s controversial Zero Bail policy. The heavily criticized policy, which took effect in early May, drops bail to as low as $0 for suspects accused of misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.
The 48-year-old "Candy Shop" rapper took to his Instagram on Thursday, July 6 to share a clip from one of FOX 11’s evening segments that shed light on the new changes to the Zero Bail policy. "LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there. SMH [shaking my head]," 50 Cent wrote alongside the clip, followed by eyes emoji. The rapper has had his own run-ins with the law at various points in his career, making for an interesting take on the system. His Instagram reel has since garnered more than 110,428 likes, with many followers agreeing with his statement.
What is a Zero Bail policy?
In accordance with the Zero Bail policy, the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA County Sheriff's Department are not permitted to impose monetary bail for all detained individuals prior to their arraignment. The no-bail extends to such crimes as theft, shoplifting, drug use, vandalism, battery, and other nonviolent crimes. The LASD claims that the policy solely affects those who have been arrested for non-violent offenses and misdemeanors. It will not apply to anyone detained for sexual offenses, domestic violence, or crimes involving firearms.
The administration also mentioned that repeat offenders who are being held without bail may be forced to make a financial payment, according to ABC 7. The Zero Bail policy was initially adopted during the Covid-19 epidemic in an effort to lessen jail overcrowding. However, it ended in June 2022 before being reinstated in May this year. A number of critics recently claimed that the policy has contributed to spike in violent crime in the Golden State. When compared to 2021, the total crime rate increased by 11% in 2022. The number of recorded offenses per 1,000 population increased from 54 in 2021 to 60 in 2022, according to Daily Mail.
What did Judge Lawrence Riff say in his ruling?
The Zero Bail policy was reinstated after Judge Lawrence Riff of the LA County Superior Court sided with a group of six activists who sued the county on the grounds that the prior system favored the wealthy. All of the plaintiffs claimed that the cash bail system had harmed them. They noted how their families suffered after failing to show up for work because they were unable to afford the bail. Riff stated in his ruling that he believed it was unlawful to keep people behind bars only because of their poverty since this is not an acceptable form of retribution. The court's present decision will stand for 60 days, during which time the city and county are required to create a "constitutionally sound, effective, concrete" strategy for handling those detained for relatively minor offenses.
