Initiative will triple the number of individuals who can be supervised in the community instead of paying bail or being detained in jail while waiting for trial

$13.8 million of funds are asset forfeiture money from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.’s Office

The de Blasio administration today announced $17.8 million to supervise 3,000 eligible defendants safely in the community instead of detaining them in jail while they wait for trial. Titled “supervised release,” the initiative will permit judges to release defendants to a supervisory program that allows defendants to remain at home with their families and continue working while waiting for trial. This expands judges’ options beyond setting bail – which could lead to unnecessary detention if an individual is unable to pay – or releasing a defendant to the community without a system in place to ensure the defendant returns to court without reoffending.