Governor Launches New Bail Notification System for New Hampshire Law Enforcement

CONCORD, NH - Today, Governor Kelly Ayotte, Attorney General John Formella, and leaders from law enforcement and the New Hampshire Judicial Branch announced the launch of a new bail notification system to strengthen New Hampshire's efforts to keep violent repeat offenders behind bars, protect victims of crimes, and prevent future tragedies. The Governor and Executive Council approved funding for the new system in February of this year, and the system has undergone testing for the past month.

"The launch of this new bail notification system gives officers timely data on bail conditions, ensuring we hold violent offenders accountable and protect victims from further harm," said Governor Kelly Ayotte. "It's another critical tool to help us keep New Hampshire the safest state in the nation. I thank the Department of Safety, the Judicial Branch, and the Attorney General's Office for working together to bring this system to law enforcement across our state."

"Our task was to create a system that obtains bail data directly from New Hampshire Courts and makes it available to law enforcement officers across the state," said New Hampshire State Police Maj. Chad Lavoie. "Today, we're proud to share that the Bail Notification System is live and fully operational for law enforcement use."

The bail notification system lets law enforcement officers quickly see an offender's bail information on the same day as ordered by the court. The system, which will be established within the Department of Safety's State Police On-Line Telecommunications System (SPOTS), will enable New Hampshire courts personnel to proactively share a defendant's bail status and certain bail conditions with law enforcement. Previously, law enforcement officers had to contact agencies or courts directly for such information. This helps officers know right away if someone is violating bail and improves safety for both law enforcement and the public.

"This new bail notification system aims to strengthen public safety and ensure that court-ordered protections are visible and actionable in real time," said Attorney General John Formella. "In domestic violence and other high-risk cases, bail conditions and protective orders are critical safeguards. By improving law enforcement's awareness of those conditions in the field, this system helps ensure those protections are known and enforceable."

The Judicial Branch provides the bail information that goes into the system and connects its court case system to it. When a judge sets or changes someone's bail conditions, that information is shared electronically so law enforcement can see the most up-to-date information. The upgrade also makes sure the court system and police system communicate securely and accurately, reducing delays and errors. Law enforcement officers will still be able to seek clarification and confirm details about a defendant's bail conditions from the court of jurisdiction.

"We helped launch this new digital platform for sharing bail information aided by the commitment and dedication of hundreds of court employees and bail commissioners who keep the system updated 24 hours-a-day, 7 days a week," said Judge Christopher M. Keating, State Court Administrator for the New Hampshire Judicial Branch. "The Judicial Branch is proud to have joined with our skilled colleagues at the Department of Safety to develop this situational awareness tool, giving the law-enforcement officer in the field real-time information about whether that person in a roadside stop is on pretrial release, or whether a judge-imposed restrictions on that person's conditional liberty."

More than a year since Governor Ayotte signed the law to fix the broken bail system, law enforcement leaders around the state report it is delivering results and improving public safety, with fewer repeat offenders released, an increase in pretrial detentions, and better protections for victims of serious crimes such as domestic violence.

"Our departments are already seeing a tremendous difference with the new bail law in place, and the new bail notification system will be a major boost to our efforts to keep our communities safe," said Chief Emily Cobb of the New London Police Department. "Having this data available to local departments is critical to the safety of our officers and the people we protect and serve. Keeping New Hampshire, the safest state in the nation is only possible when every level of law enforcement and our court system work together, and we're enhancing that collaboration with the launch of this new system."

View the video from today's press conference.