La Crosse DA predicts bond for crime suspects could become campaign issue

Judges in La Crosse County are often criticized in social media for letting crime suspects out of jail on low cash or signature bonds…where in some cases, those suspects commit more crimes. 

That’s also an issue in the case of Darrell Brooks, the driver suspected of killing six people and injuring dozens at a Waukesha Christmas parade. 

District attorney Tim Gruenke of La Crosse says a lot of adjustments have been made in the Wisconsin bond system over the past decade.

“(We’re) trying to do more of a risk-based assessment of people that are on bond,

A $5 million cash bond has been set for Brooks, who was released from jail on a $1000 bond days before driving into the Waukesha parade crowd.

Gruenke thinks voters may react at the polls next year, “with governor and attorney general and sheriffs around the state” running for office in November. “I’m sure this is going to be a topic that’s gonna come up about what we should do about bond and how we should improve it.”