New Hampshire weighs plans to rollback bail reform law

(The Center Square) — New Hampshire Republicans are moving to tighten the state’s bail laws over concerns that reforms that went into effect last year are allowing dangerous criminals to be released ahead of trial.

In August, then-Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill to tighten bail laws by holding people accused of violent crimes behind bars until their arraignments. The changes, which passed with bipartisan support, require the state to hire three bail magistrates who can fill in for judges to oversee bail hearings and ensure the process moves more quickly. The magistrates began hearing cases on Jan. 1.