The plan to change Wisconsin’s constitution to require tougher bails took its first step forward at the State Capitol.
The State Assembly overwhelmingly passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow judges and court commissioners to consider the severity of a crime when setting bail. Right now, Wisconsin law doesn’t allow that. The amendment is a direct result of the low bail that the Waukesha Christmas Parade suspect got just days before police say he ran down more than 60 people.
Lawmakers have to approve the amendment twice, then it would go to voters for their approval. That could happen next year.
