Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. told staff at Rikers Island on Monday not to ask for bail in many nonviolent cases, even though the policy could result in additional “low level” crimes.
Under the new directive, trial division attorneys should avoid asking for bail when “the threat of confinement under these conditions outweighs the threat to the community.” Executive Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi Orbon said this order will be in effect for at least the next few weeks, according to the New York Post .