DOVER, Del. (AP)- Democratic lawmakers are sponsoring a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Delaware judges to deny bail for defendants charged with non-capital crimes.
The proposed amendment cleared a Senate committee Wednesday and is headed to the Senate floor.
Under current law, a defendant can be ordered held without bail only if charged with capital murder.
But the attorney general's office says judges should be allowed to order defendants in other criminal cases held without bail if their release pending trial might pose a danger to the community.
Public defender Brendan O'Neill told lawmakers the current system works and that there's no need to amend the state constitution. He also noted that the Senate approved a bill just last week calling for judges to use objective risk assessments in making bail decisions.
