Updated with ACLU-NH response.
CONCORD – Manchester’s new Republican Mayor Jay Ruais called for bail reform at a press conference Wednesday flanked by aldermen, state Reps ahead of votes by the full House of Representatives on the issue.
“As one of my first official acts as Mayor, I am here today to thank the legislature and Governor for their hard work in finding common ground on bail reform.
“The reason I made this one of my first official acts is to highlight the importance of this issue to our city. In 2023, 813 criminals were arrested, released, and rearrested.
“Many of these criminals were not just arrested for petty crimes but violent assaults, robberies, and other serious offenses. These bills that are being voted on by the legislature today are a step in the right direction and I appreciate all of the work being done.
“The message I wish to send today is that the City of Manchester is ready, willing, and able to work with you on this issue. I ask now that we to continue to work together to get where we need to be for our public safety officials and our citizens of Manchester.”
Devon Chaffee, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire said:
“We continue to urge lawmakers invested in strengthening our bail system to adopt proposals that would address concerns raised without violating Granite Staters’ civil liberties, like creating a real time bail tracking system and creating an avenue for magistrate judges to preside over bail hearings. The package of bail reform bills approved by the N.H. House today contains some of those proposals and is a result of many bipartisan working sessions.”