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A Criminal Justice Advisory subcommittee supported changing the policy so people charged with first-degree bias crime are not released before appearing in court.<\/p>\n
PORTLAND, Ore. \u2014 Asian American groups, prosecutors and crime victims are pushing to change a statewide policy that allowed a man to be released from jail<\/a> immediately after being booked on a first-degree bias crime in Portland last month.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Portland police say Dylan Kesterson punched a father and his 5-year-old daughter in a racially motivated attack in early July. Both victims are of Japanese descent.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Kesterson has since been accused of at least three prior racist attacks in downtown Portland.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n On Monday, a Criminal Justice Advisory Pretrial Subcommittee supported changing the policy so that people who are charged with first-degree bias crime are not released before their case is heard by a judge.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n RELATED: Suspect in anti-Asian attacks in Portland charged with a 3rd bias crime<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Oregon District Attorney\u2019s Association<\/a> called for the “immediate and urgent” change in statewide policy following Kesterson\u2019s release from jail.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n In a letter<\/a> sent to the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, the Portland Japanese American Citizens League argued that people arrested on a bias crime should remain in custody until arraignment because of the danger they present to the community.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWe call on our courts to take bias crimes and public safety seriously. Communities should no longer constantly feel threatened by the \u2018catch & release\u2019 of such perpetrators,\u201d wrote Portland JACL in the letter, which was signed by 15 other Asian American organizations.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Any change to the court\u2019s release policy would require an order by Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Walters, followed by amended guidelines for each circuit court.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n RELATED: Why the man accused of violently attacking an Asian family in Portland got out of jail the same day he was arrested<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Portland police arrested Kesterson, 34, on July 2 after he allegedly yelled anti-Asian slurs and assaulted the man and his daughter along the Eastbank Esplanade.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n After being booked on first-degree bias crime, Oregon\u2019s most serious hate crime, Kesterson was told to call into a court hearing the following week and then allowed to walk free. Kesterson had no prior criminal history in Oregon.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n He failed to show up for a subsequent court hearing, then was was re-arrested on July 6. He pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Kesterson\u2019s release back onto the streets just hours after the alleged attack sparked citywide outrage. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler demanded a review of the criminal justice system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n I am outraged over the bias crime incident that happened last weekend, and the shortcomings of the criminal justice system during what followed. pic.twitter.com\/MrizZDFShx<\/a><\/p>\n\n