Republican representing Waukesha introduces bill targeting 'pro-criminal, weak bail laws'
Attack on Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, last year 'could have been prevented,' Rep. Fitzgerald tells Fox News Digital
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FIRST ON FOX: The House Republican who represents the district where a man with a criminal history allegedly drove his car through a Waukesha, Wisconsin, parade last year introduced bail reform legislation Wednesday.
The Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, introduced by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., would punish jurisdictions — like New York City, Los Angeles and Baltimore — that have eliminated or restricted the use of monetary bail systems. The bill would aim to prevent future crimes committed by individuals who have been released without bail for previous crimes.
"Nearly a year ago, the Waukesha community experienced the devastating impact of pro-criminal, weak bail laws," Fitzgerald told Fox News Digital. "Our community lost 6 lives, including an eight-year-old child, in a Christmas parade attack that could have been prevented."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The perpetrator was previously released on bail despite having a record of aggravated battery and an outstanding warrant for skipping bail for a sex-related crime before he attacked paradegoers," he continued. "This bill makes sure pretrial release factors and development of criminal history reports are considered when assessing bail."
WAUKESHA CHRISTMAS PARADE ATTACK SUSPECT DARRELL BROOKS JR. FIDGETS IN COURT AS TRIAL NEARS
Rep. Scott Fitzgerald represents Wisconsin's 5th congressional district which includes Waukesha where the Christmas parade attack took place. (AP)
On Nov. 21, 2021, Milwaukee native Darrell Brooks Jr. was arrested after allegedly driving his car through Waukesha's annual Christmas parade, killing six people including an eight-year-old child and injuring dozens of others. Brooks has a lengthy history of violence and criminal charges dating back to the 1990s.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Just five days before the parade attack, Brooks had been released on $1,000 bail after allegedly running over his ex-girlfriend's foot with the same car he is accused of using in the parade attack. At the time of that alleged crime, Brooks had been released on $500 bail for shooting a firearm at two people.
WAUKESHA PARADE SUSPECT HAS A DISTURBING HISTORY OF ABUSING WOMEN
Democratic Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said the bail was set "inappropriately low" and a lower-level prosecutor was reassigned after the parade attack. However, former Waukesha County prosecutor Tom Grieve told Fox News Digital in December that lenient bail is "standard for Milwaukee."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The six victims killed in the Waukesha parade attack were identified as Jackson Sparks, 8; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; LeAnna Owen, 71; Virginia Sorenson, 79; and Wilhelm, 81. (Facebook)
Fitzgerald's bill introduced Wednesday would reduce a jurisdiction's Byrne grant funding by 75% if they don't implement policies considering pretrial release factors as set in federal law. A jurisdiction's Byrne grant funding would be reduced by the same amount if they don't develop and maintain a public safety report for each defendant charged with a violent offense.
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant is a federal program that provides states and units of local municipalities with their main source of federal criminal justice funding.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The bill further defines bail bonds as an insurance product so that they must comply with federal insurance fraud laws and background check requirements.
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"By making these changes, we take an important first step into ensuring prosecutors prevent violent criminals from being released," Fitzgerald said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Reps. David Rouzer, R-N.C., Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., Troy Nehls, R-Texas, cosponsored the legislation.
Fox News reporters Rebecca Rosenberg and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.