• Friday Thoughts
• February 17 Metro Council Meeting Recap
• Coffee with your Councilman - February 23
• March Litter Pickup
• Jefferson Memorial Forest Summer Camps
• Read + Play at the Northeast Regional Library

Friday Thoughts

What an unbelievable week. Like you, the events of this week have left me shaken, frustrated, and angry.

Let me start by saying I am glad no one was seriously injured in the attempted shooting of Craig Greenberg. Regardless of one's political beliefs, an incident like this is simply unbelievable and unacceptable. While no one was physically injured, I imagine there are mental and emotional scars that will not quickly heal.

I will add that this sort of event has been experienced by far too many in our community. So, while this story has gotten lots of attention, the incident is not unique, unfortunately. I am sure much will be written regarding what got us here, how a promising young scholar ended up being charged with attempted murder, how our mental health services are lacking, and more.

At least for today, I want to focus my attention on the part where the victims are victimized a second time - when their alleged attacker is released from custody roughly two days after the attack. Like many of you, I felt a $100,000 bail was very low (though, apparently it is quite high for attempted murder charges - another unbelievable fact). How could someone facing such serious charges be released so easily? What message does this send (or not send) about accountability and consequences?

To unpack this, we need to dive into the broken and outdated cash bail system - a system not governed by the mayor, Metro Council, state lawmakers, or the governor. It is codified in our state constitution that capital murder defendants only can be held without bail and that bail must not be excessive. While risk to the community is considered in the bail amount, the bail itself is partially the issue. If two people commit the same offense and have identical risks to the community, why should a poor person stay in jail while a person with access to resources gets out? That does not make sense to me nor does it make the community safer. Rather, a defendant should be held or released (or committed to mental health facilities or home incarceration) based on risk to the community.

This actually calls out one of the other issues we have at the jail - and why bail is a bad idea. Our jail is full of low-level detainees who have not yet had a trial and are therefore presumed innocent. Too many cannot pull together the hundreds or thousands of dollars necessary to get out of jail. So, taxpayers pay to keep them there and likely bear the cost of additional social services (if and when those charged get out) as it's difficult to imagine the impacts on someone's life after spending weeks or months in jail.

Let me be clear - actions should have consequences, and it is the very lack of consequences that have caused some of the crime issues we have today. Undoubtedly, we need better enforcement, adjudication, and penalties when someone is found guilty. However, I think we might all agree that the level of penalty shouldn't be determined by the individual's financial position.

To underscore this point, I want to share a story with you. While on a tour of the jail once, I was told they had recently held a woman for four days because she could not make bail. Her offense? Months earlier, she was fishing without a license and was cited in a neighboring county. She didn't pay her fine, and a bench warrant was issued. Fast forward a few weeks and this lady gets pulled over in Louisville. The officer ran her identification and discovered she had an outstanding warrant. She ends up in our jail for those four days before finally being released. That is two days longer than someone who has been charged with attempted murder. 

I can think of no better example as to why our entire bail system needs to be overhauled. I hope to partner with our lawmakers in Frankfort to find a path towards a better system.

Contact the District 17 Office

Markus Winkler
17th District Councilman

502.574.1117
markus.winkler@louisvilleky.gov

Kip Eatherly
Legislative Aide

502.574.3462
kip.eatherly@louisvilleky.gov

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Important Numbers

Animal Services   473-7387
Codes & Regulations   574-2508
EACM   426-2824
Health & Wellness   574-6520
Jefferson Co. Clerk   574-5700
KY Science Center   561-6100
LG&E   589-1444
LMPD (8th Division)   574-2258
Louisville Water   583-6610
Louisville Zoo   459-2181
Mayor's Office   574-2003
Middletown Library   245-7332
MSD   540-6000
NE Regional Library   394-0379
Parks   574-7275
Planning   574-6230
Public Works   574-5810
TARC   585-1234