Police & crime. (Credit: Flickr Creative Commons)
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is under scrutiny after declining to seek pretrial detention without bail for Rahmere Haggray, a defendant whose recent charges have ignited controversy within the local community. Haggray has become the center of a debate that reaches far beyond the courthouse walls.
Charging documents from the court of common pleas show that Haggray was arrested in December 2020 for a Sept.4, 2020 Indecent Assault and released on recognizance (no bail). Then, merely four months later, Haggray was arrested on April 23, 2021 for Indecent Assault with Forcible Compulsion.
Even though he had pending charges less than six months old, Haggray was released on unsecured bail.
Then, on October 13, 2022, a warrant for Haggray was issued for a new crime of unlawful contact with a minor and indecent assault, and he was arrested by Philadelphia Police on Oct. 21 of that year. The following day, the DA’s office made a motion to revoke his bail, but it wasn't until November 3, 2022, that police released surveillance footage on YouTube, sparking outrage. In this case, bail was increased to ten percent of $800,000.
As Haggray couldn’t post bail, he stayed in the Philadelphia prison system until he eventually pled guilty on July 9, 2024. However, Haggray was only sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months confinement, then released with an immediate parole credit plus three years’ probation — allowing him to walk free that very day.
Then, on July 16, 2024, merely a week after his release from jail, Haggray allegedly committed and was charged with a forcible rape, and a host of related charges at a Northeast Philadelphia WalMart.
Currently, Haggray is back in the Philadelphia Prisons complex on State Rd. on $1M in monetary bail (as he couldn’t produce $100,000 to get released again), awaiting trial for his 2024 case, raising the question: how he was released so many times before?
Haggray, who previously published a paper hosted on Prezi, explores the influence of Satanism on skateboarding’s subculture, highlighting how fringe beliefs and aesthetics can shape youth communities. Critics argue that such affiliations may raise questions about individual character, although the relevance to the criminal charges remains a matter of public speculation.
Philadelphia’s District Attorney’s Office, guided by Larry Krasner’s bail reform policies in recent years, has focused on limiting the use of cash bail and promoting pretrial release for many defendants. However, the discretion to request detention still exists, especially in cases where the defendant is deemed a risk to public safety or likely to flee. Many feel that the decision regarding Haggray does not reflect the seriousness of his alleged offense, sparking renewed calls for clarity in bail policy enforcement.
The community’s reaction has been swift. On X, advocates and concerned citizens question why Haggray, given the details of his case, was not held without bail. The debate is fueled by broader concerns about whether the DA’s Office is adequately considering the risk posed by certain individuals, especially in light of its reform agenda.
As Haggray’s case plays out, Philadelphia faces a crossroads between justice reform and public safety. While bail reformers insist that limiting detention reduces social harms and inequalities, critics argue that such policies must still address the realities of serious crime and risk in the community. The District Attorney’s Office has yet to issue a detailed public statement explaining its reasoning in Haggray’s situation, leaving citizens and legal experts awaiting more information.
The question remains: Why did the District Attorney’s Office decide not to seek pretrial detention without bail for Rahmere Haggray? Philly Daily has reached out to the DA’s office for comment, and will update this story if any is forthcoming.
Until the office provides further explanation, the case continues to fuel a contentious debate on the future of criminal justice in Philadelphia.
