Wisconsin votes for referendum on cash bail and violent crimes

WISCONSIN — Wisconsin residents voted in favor of a pair of referendum questions that may change how judges decide money bail for individuals charged with violent crimes in Wisconsin, TMJ4 Information tasks.

State Referendum 2: Money Bail Earlier than Conviction handed with 76 % of the vote, in accordance with TMJ4 election outcomes.

Watch TMJ4 Information reside election outcomes for races throughout Wisconsin on April 4 right here.

Beneath are the 2 prolonged statewide referendum questions. The proposed constitutional amendments would give judges extra components to think about when setting bail for individuals charged with violent crimes.

The questions did immediate some considerations from native early voters, as TMJ4’s Ben Jordan beforehand reported.

An election inspector at a Milwaukee early voting website beforehand advised TMJ4 Information that she just isn’t allowed to clarify what the questions imply to voters.

Present Wisconsin legislation says judges and court docket commissioners can solely decide money bail to make sure the defendant returns to court docket.

Republican Rep. Cindi Duchow of Delafield led the trouble to get the questions on the poll as a result of she believes the adjustments would stop individuals charged with violent crimes from reoffending whereas awaiting trial.

“Within the easiest phrases, what do these questions really imply?” TMJ4 reporter Ben Jordan requested forward of the April 4 election.

“This implies we modify the definition of great hurt and {that a} choose can look again at your previous felony convictions,” Rep. Duchow replied then. “These are the 2 most necessary issues.”

Watch Ben Jordan’s reporting from earlier than the April 4 election:

Voters say they can not perceive statewide poll referendum questions

Rep. Duchow says attorneys who wrote the questions needed to embody the particular part of the Wisconsin Structure the referendum would change.

“I really feel badly that they’re complicated, however I feel we’re nonetheless going to get it throughout the end line,” she mentioned.

If the referendums cross, the state’s structure will likely be amended to turn into state legislation.

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