Bail Reform’s “Collateral Damage”?

I know defund police police and prison advocates ignore this kind of case and accuse those who mention this of “sensationalizing” crime. But somebody was murdered. And if we don’t talk about this, how do we prevent it from happening again?

As reported in the Daily News: “The diminutive 5-foot-tall Armand … was ordered by Judge April Neubauer to attend a mental-health treatment program, authorities said. Armand was released from jail to attend the program, and her sentencing was adjourned until she finished.” So far so good.

“In April, Armand was charged with felony assault after she went into a post office, asked for mail and sprayed a clerk in the face with pepper spray. When cops tried to arrest her, she kicked and punched and broke one of the officer’s body worn cameras.” Not so good.

“Prosecutors in Manhattan asked for $30,000 bond, but she was released without bail. That case is still pending… Ms. Armand has since failed at several programs, and at each instance an (Assistant District Attorney) recommended the jail alternative be imposed, but it was not.”

“Neighbors in Washington Heights said Armand had a violent streak and this past winter, a gun was fired from inside her apartment, wounding someone on the street.” See, it’s not just about Armand. It also needs to be about the community. The neighbors are almost always ignored.

A 60-year-old neighbor said: “She threatens people with a Taser daily. She fights….This person is being allowed to do too many things. If she comes back, I’m leaving. I didn’t sign on for this.” You may not live next to Armand. But this guy does. What about him?

When Armand was supposed to go to court for sentencing for her old crime, she doesn’t. And instead she ends up murdering Fateema Boston, who comes to her apartment (perhaps sent by Fateema’s ex girlfriend).

Reformers need a better alternative than silence. Armand got “services” and a 2nd (and 3rd) chance. Policy should not be dictated by one bad example. One side says, “lock her up!” The reform side needs a better alternative. But you can’t just let violent people wreak havoc.

6 thoughts on “Bail Reform’s “Collateral Damage”?

    1. Seems you missed the point… you never once addressed the link between one’s threat level and one’s ability to pay cash bail.

      As for “how do we prevent it from happening again?” You failed to mention that only 60% of murders are solved. How exactly does cash bail help these victims?

      Sure, a dragnet like cash bail will keep prevent some crimes, but ignoring cash bail’s collateral damage reveals the dangerous limits of victimhood with this kind of lock-them-up mentality.

  1. as usual, the self pitying and all knowing attitude expressed by unaccountable privledged and true sovereign citizens

  2. I don’t believe they should defund the police because it would make them an easy target to most people. They are people out there that think they can take on an officer because they out gun them. So I wouldn’t recommend thy should defund them.

  3. The decisions that were made were flawed and would be in need of review. I believe that defunding the police wouldn’t have had any impact on what crimes Armand had committed. It seems that the rehabilitation programs given to Armand were unsuccessful and it would have been best if she were to have been supervised to determine whether or not these programs were beneficial or not.

  4. Armand was given many chances and still messed up. She definitely needed much more supervision. Fateema Bosto’s life was taken away because Armand was not given the supervision that she should have been given. If Armand had a history of violent behavior, there should have been more eyes on her from the start.

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