CONCORD — New Hampshire’s Republican governor is planning to convene a meeting this month to consider changes to the bail system amid concerns from law enforcement in the state’s largest city that suspects are being arrested multiple times.
Gov. Chris Sununu said Friday that he wants Democrats and Republicans to come together to fix the problem, following Manchester police complaints that recent changes in the system are resulting in suspects being released on personal recognizance bail, only to be rearrested for a separate crime.
On Thursday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers said police and prosecutors need more training on the new bail system, and called out Sununu for failing to make appointments to a bail reform commission.
“Moving forward, we hope the governor will work with the Legislature in our effort to ensure that our public officials and law enforcement community are properly trained and equipped with the resources they need to protect our communities,” state Sen. Martha Hennessey, D-Hanover, said in a statement.
Last year, the Legislature approved sweeping bail reform measures over concerns that suspects were being jailed because they couldn’t afford bail.
People suspected of a low-level offense are released on personal recognizance, as long as a judge determines they are not a danger to themselves or the public.