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Rape suspect among 100s of arrestees freed (N.O.)from jail with help from mayor’s aide
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:18 pm
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:18 pm
Joshua Cox, Cantrell’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, is founder of the New Orleans Freedom Fund, an organization that pays the full cash bail of arrested suspects who can’t afford to pay for their own release.
Cox incorporated the fund as a “low-profit” LLC in May 2017, a full year before he was hired to work at City Hall. But now as one of the mayor’s senior advisors, he continues his work with the fund, often personally paying the cash to spring criminal suspects from jail.
The fund – and the criminal justice philosophy behind it – has recently become a hot topic of debate at Tulane and Broad, with vociferous supporters and detractors.
“It's extremely disturbing,” District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said. “And I guess my question is why? Why are you doing this? Think about it. It absolutely is a get-out-of-jail free card.” Aggravated assault suspect Daniel Bonney had a $5,000 bail for aggravated assault reduced to $1. And even at that token amount, Bonney didn’t have to pay. The Freedom Fund paid it for him, records show. LINK
Cox incorporated the fund as a “low-profit” LLC in May 2017, a full year before he was hired to work at City Hall. But now as one of the mayor’s senior advisors, he continues his work with the fund, often personally paying the cash to spring criminal suspects from jail.
The fund – and the criminal justice philosophy behind it – has recently become a hot topic of debate at Tulane and Broad, with vociferous supporters and detractors.
“It's extremely disturbing,” District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said. “And I guess my question is why? Why are you doing this? Think about it. It absolutely is a get-out-of-jail free card.” Aggravated assault suspect Daniel Bonney had a $5,000 bail for aggravated assault reduced to $1. And even at that token amount, Bonney didn’t have to pay. The Freedom Fund paid it for him, records show. LINK
This post was edited on 10/17/18 at 12:21 pm
16
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:20 pm to BowDownToLSU
That hasn't stopped some individual cases from getting sharp criticism, like that of robbery suspect Gino McDowell, released after posting a $25,000 bond, only to get re-arrested after police say he returned to the victim's store and threaten to kill him. Bail was set after that second arrest at only $200.
“What you're essentially seeing is a movement that has turned the accused into a victim,” Dennis said.
After weeks of research, WWL-TV found hundreds of recent bail amounts set at less than an average traffic ticket, some even lower. And in more than 200 cases, the bail was paid by the Freedom Fund.
“What you're essentially seeing is a movement that has turned the accused into a victim,” Dennis said.
After weeks of research, WWL-TV found hundreds of recent bail amounts set at less than an average traffic ticket, some even lower. And in more than 200 cases, the bail was paid by the Freedom Fund.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:20 pm to BowDownToLSU
Garbage Republicans making the streets less safe 
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:22 pm to BowDownToLSU
quote:
New Orleans Freedom Fund, an organization that pays the full cash bail of arrested suspects who can’t afford to pay for their own release.
Am I missing something? Why is this a thing?
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:22 pm to BowDownToLSU
quote:
Daniel Bonney had a $5,000 bail for aggravated assault reduced to $1. And even at that token amount, Bonney didn’t have to pay. The Freedom Fund paid it for him, records show.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:25 pm to BowDownToLSU
The problem is the bail lowering, not paying for it.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:31 pm to BowDownToLSU
this is how you get your chocolate city back, step by step. and these thug POS's will go vote until they get felony convictions.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:33 pm to Ed Osteen
quote:
DeQuan Ayers faces multiple charges at Criminal District Court. When police arrested him in June for distribution of marijuana, they say he had two and half pounds of it on him.
Ayers, though, got out of jail on a $3,500 bond - but he didn’t pay a dime.
quote:
“Someone essentially posted, for a lack of better term, a complimentary bond for this person. My understanding is there is no relationship between the defendant and the person who posted the bond,” says Cannizzaro.
Ayers’ bail order shows Jennifer Schnidman bonded him out. She’s a member of the New Orleans Freedom Fund.
quote:
The New Orleans Freedom Fund is an organization that bonds people out of jail. In Ayer’s case, after the organization bonded him out, he failed to appear in court - twice. The judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
That arrest came Wednesday afternoon, when police say he committed second-degree battery and simple robbery in the French Quarter. Now, Ayers is being held without bond.
“This individual was involved in the French Quarter again. This time it was with a robbery involving a tourist and a felony battery with that tourist,” says Cannizzaro.
quote:
According to the Secretary of State, Cox registered the New Orleans Freedom Fun as a low profit liability company in May of 2017. He’s listed as the manager and member.
Cox is also a member of Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s administration as the director of strategic initiatives.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:45 pm to BowDownToLSU
Essentially releasing criminals who definitely won't show back up to court seems like a solid plan.
More people get victimized, and then the cops have to go serve high-risk warrants against suspects that were already in jail, but got released for free
More people get victimized, and then the cops have to go serve high-risk warrants against suspects that were already in jail, but got released for free
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:47 pm to tgrbaitn08
quote:
Ayers’ bail order shows Jennifer Schnidman bonded him out.
quote:
“This individual was involved in the French Quarter again. This time it was with a robbery involving a tourist and a felony battery with that tourist,” says Cannizzaro.
Good job Jennifer Schnidman.
Are the judges in cahoots with this "Fund"? WHy the heck would they drop the bail to nothing?
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:53 pm to BowDownToLSU
Good God... what is wrong with people?
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:53 pm to tgrbaitn08
I hope a criminal gets out and assaults those 2 on the street.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:54 pm to Jones
quote:
I hope a criminal gets out and assaults those 2 on the street.
Jennifer Schnidman is a teacher in New Orleans East so there is a good chance this happens
Posted on 10/17/18 at 12:59 pm to Jones
Without state and federal structure and support, cities like New Orleans would closely resemble Zimbabwe
Posted on 10/17/18 at 1:02 pm to BowDownToLSU
Unbelievable.
And when these criminals commit other crimes, can the victims hold the "Freedom Fund" accountable?
And when these criminals commit other crimes, can the victims hold the "Freedom Fund" accountable?
Posted on 10/17/18 at 1:08 pm to rintintin
These people are innocent until proven guilty. Bail is not supposed to be a system for incarcerating people without trial, which it has become. Reasonable bails and reasonably swift trial times should be the standard and anyone that cares about justice should be asking "why were bails so high before being lowered" and not just "why was the bail lowered".
It's the responsibility of prosecutors to make a good argument for a high bail, not a default high bail that is lowered through influence or graft.
It's the responsibility of prosecutors to make a good argument for a high bail, not a default high bail that is lowered through influence or graft.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 1:08 pm to rintintin
I'm sure this is part of Cantrell's "Cure Violence" initiative she announced last night. Get these wrongly arrested criminals back on the streets to do good instead of bad.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 1:13 pm to blackinthesaddle
Yeah.
If the DA wants these people in jail, get them convicted,not held because they can't afford bail.
If the DA wants these people in jail, get them convicted,not held because they can't afford bail.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 1:14 pm to BowDownToLSU
Is this even a real person? I have a hard time believing someone with a law degree is actually that stupid
quote:
“It is expensive to detain folks. It is harmful to community,” said Derwyn Bunton, chief of the Orleans Public Defender’s office. “We need to re-orient ourselves as a community. These beds are for folks who are truly dangerous.”
Bunton said many suspects – even some booked with felonies – are a low risk to re-offend or miss court, and the community is boosted by allowing them to return to jobs, school or families.
“When you look at our jail population, it is going down without any appreciable increase in our crime rate,” Bunton said.
Posted on 10/17/18 at 1:19 pm to Hammertime
What did he say that was stupid? He nailed the truth to the door as far as I'm concerned. A kid with a felony charge for possession of a few hits of acid is not a danger to the community.
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