EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF CASH BAIL REFORM AND SUBSEQUENT ROLLBACKS ON OVERALL CRIME RATES

In 2019, New York State lawmakers approved legislation eliminating
the use of cash bail for the majority of misdemeanors and select
lesser felonies. Politicians and other government officials have
vocally opposed the legislation since its implementation in January
2020, claiming it led to increased crime rates throughout the City.
New York State approved two rollbacks of this legislation in 2020
and 2022, expanding the scope of charges eligible for bail and other
special considerations. The Capstone team examined the effect of
cash bail reform and its subsequent rollbacks on overall crime rates
in NYC by using publicly available data on City crime rates. Using a
difference-in-difference method, the team’s findings provide insight
into whether cash bail reform actually decreases the overall crime
rate and what policy implications the rollbacks have for overall
crime.