Reform Bail Reform, Says Hoboken Mayor Before Public Safety Meeting

Crime & Safety

Reform Bail Reform, Says Hoboken Mayor Before Public Safety Meeting After 2 people were attacked at random in Hoboken's Church Square Park in October, the mayor has weighed in. Get a link to the meeting here.

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken's mayor weighed in on Monday regarding an incident in a park Oct. 31 in which a man with previous arrests allegedly attacked two strangers.

A Hoboken community meeting in response to the assault is scheduled for Monday (today) at 5:30 p.m. See the link below to join virtually.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who hadn't spoken at length about the alleged assaults in Church Square Park, sent a community message Monday saying the man who was arrested had "a substantial criminal record, having previously been arrested five times for various, serious crimes."

He noted that the man had been released because of New Jersey's bail reform laws, which have frustrated public safety officials for some time. READ MORE: After Man Charged In 3rd Hoboken Bank Robbery, Public Safety Chief Questions Bail Reform

Then-Gov. Chris Christie signed bail reform measures into law in 2014 and 2017. The reforms were meant to keep people accused of violent crimes from paying bail to get out of jail — and to allow those accused of non-violent crimes to be released without having to sit in jail.

The intent was to eliminate cash bail or bond for crimes, the theory being that it only kept impoverished people locked up regardless of guilt. There were exceptions for those accused of serious crimes, like homicides and sex assaults.

Bhalla said in a message on Monday:

"At the time of the incident, two members of the Hoboken Police Department were assigned to active patrol in Church Square Park. These two officers swiftly came to the aid of the victim, and along with the assistance of multiple other officers who responded within moments of the initial call, immediately arrested the perpetrator...

"Unfortunately, the detained individual has a substantial criminal record, having previously been arrested five times for various, serious crimes. While he remains in detention currently, the previous several times the individual was arrested, he was released, under the current bail laws and regulations set by state law, despite legal motions for detention by the Hudson County Prosecutors Office. In my eyes, this severely undermines the work of our dedicated police officers and necessitates a comprehensive review of our criminal justice system.

"While the intent of recent bail reform in New Jersey —to ensure fairness and prevent unnecessary detentions—is very important, I sincerely believe stronger measures need to be in place to ensure public safety in cases involving repeat and violent offenders as was the case here. I am calling on state policymakers to review and refine these policies to find a more nuanced approach that does not unjustly target disadvantaged communities, while also ensuring the safety of our community.

"As some may know, over the past 7 years, we have welcomed over 60 new officers to our ranks in the Hoboken Police Department, including 23 new officers this year (as mentioned above), underscoring our commitment to ensuring Police Chief Steve Aguiar has the officers needed to address our public safety needs."

See more of the message here.

Attend Or View The Meeting

The meeting will be held at City Hall, 94 Washington St., entrance on Newark Street. But it will also be held virtually ( you can use this link .)

A community meeting in response to the attack had been scheduled for two weeks ago, but was postponed after City Council President Jen Giattino unexpectedly passed away.

The city previously said, "Hoboken Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante, Hoboken Police Chief Steven Aguiar, and Mayor Ravi Bhalla will be available to discuss public safety issues, including a recent incident at Church Square Park. The public will be informed of what is being done to keep residents and visitors safe at the park, and throughout Hoboken."

A more routine monthly CAPS public safety meeting will be held on Dec. 11 at the Hive (see details of that one here ).

After the incident, Troy Timberlake, 31, was charged with aggravated assault, endangering an injured victim, child cruelty, and refusal to submit fingerprinting, police said. He was then taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.

READ MORE: Woman Knocked Unconscious, Man Assaulted In Hoboken Park