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matzoh_ball t1_jcdhr8b wrote

If you don’t show up for court - especially repeatedly - there’ll be an arrest warrant and you’ll be locked up.

I agree with you that the law can and should be improved. That said, the harm-harm guideline that was introduced with the bail amendments in July 2020 addresses a large swath of the “repeat offenders” who people are rightly concerned about.

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NetQuarterLatte t1_jcdtr6y wrote

Arrest warrants don’t do much though. At least in NYC.

Yuna Lee’s killer was arrested for a misdemeanor, and even though he had an arrest warrant another crime, he was still released (and committed that murder shortly after).

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matzoh_ball t1_jcdwfzl wrote

There’s always exceptions but the vast majority of people who repeatedly miss court appearances have an arrest warrant issued and are eventually arrested. The fact that it was a big deal that Yuna Lee’s murderer had not been arrested is precisely part of the reason it was such a big deal.

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NetQuarterLatte t1_jcdy50v wrote

He was arrested though.

I think the problem with an arrest warrant is that it’s only to bring him in front of a judge.

If the court can’t hold a trial right then and there, then they have to release him if it’s a misdemeanor.

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