State House Dome - Bail Reform Developments

One big change that has attracted major concern is the removal of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and stalking from a list of offenses that can subject an offender to be held without bail until he or she sees a judge.

​“The Coalition does not take a position on this bill. However, to specifically exclude the crime of misdemeanor domestic violence assault from this proposal ignores the reality that domestic violence is the most dangerous crime in New Hampshire,” said Alyssa Dandrea, community relations specialist with the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

“The majority of homicides in our state are committed by domestic violence offenders, who escalate over time. The act of domestic violence is most commonly charged as a misdemeanor-level offense in our state, so most people charged with this highly lethal crime would continue to go before a bail commissioner, not a judge.”

​According to legal advocates, few are charged with felony domestic violence and that means many of the misdemeanor offenses involve serious domestic assaults.

​November 18, 2023
Union Leader

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