Los Angeles is in the spotlight again, and this time, it’s not for the right reasons. The city’s decision to reinstate the no-bail policy has drawn widespread criticism, with rapper 50 Cent warning that the city is “finished.” The policy, which was initially adopted during the pandemic, drops bail to as low as $0 for suspects accused of misdemeanors and non-violеnt felonies. Critics say the policy is spiking crimе in the Golden State, and a recent study by a District Attorney’s Office found that zero bail policies have seriously negative effects on public safety.

The no-bail policy in Los Angeles was initially adopted during the pandemic as an attempt to reduce overcrowding in prisons. The policy allowed suspects accused of misdemeanors and non-violеnt felonies to be released without bail and before arraignment. The policy was supposed to slow the spread of “you-know-what” in jails at the time.

However, the policy ended in July 2022, but in May 2023, it was reinstated due to a ruling by Judge Lawrence Riff. The ruling stated that “bail for violation of misdemeanor probation… may be set at $0.” This means that anyone arrested for these crimеs will automatically be released without paying bail and before arraignment.

The no-bail policy has had a significant impact on crimе rates in Los Angeles. Critics argue that the policy is spiking crimе in the city, and the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office study supports this claim. The study found that zero bail policies have “horrific” effects on public safety, and suspects released without bail reoffended 70% more often than those who posted bail.

In a case study from February 2023, a similar “$0 bail” policy in Yolo County, California, “resulted in 163% more total crimе & 200% more crimе.” The policy, like the one in LA, was originally instituted as a response to the pandemic.

The Los Angeles Police Department has also criticized the policy, with officers saying that it has led to a rise in crimе, especially theft and burglary. The LAPD has also criticized the policy, saying that it has led to a rash of looting and that it’s like “Christmas every day for criminals.”