Perspectives: Waukesha Parade Tragedy Prompts Reflections, Critiques of Justice System

The tragedy at a Wisconsin Christmas parade earlier this week has been followed by remembrances of the dead and angry criticisms of a purportedly faulty justice system. 

Darrell Brooks Jr., the man charged with plowing his SUV through the Waukesha Christmas parade Sunday night while fleeing a domestic incident, was let out of jail after posting $1,000 cash bail on Nov. 11. He had been arrested on Nov. 5 and charged with disorderly conduct and recklessly endangering safety for allegedly hitting the mother of his child and running her over with a vehicle. Brooks was charged with five counts of intentional homicide Tuesday night, and the judge set bail at $5 million. Meanwhile, prosecutors announced that a sixth person, a child, had succumbed to injuries sustained at the parade, and said they'd consider a sixth homicide charge. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm's office called the state’s $1,000 bail recommendation for Brooks "inappropriately low" in a statement Monday.

Coverage from left-rated outlets often highlighted memories of the people killed and stories of how the community would recover. Conversely, reports and perspectives from right-rated outlets often framed Wisconsin's justice system as problematic and symbolic of issues with progressive efforts to lower incarceration rates. Some on the right highlighted comments Chisholm made in 2007, in which he said murder committed by someone who was diverted from a criminal sentence was "guaranteed to happen" but "does not invalidate the overall approach."