zero bail

Extracted Attributes

• Criticism

  Contributes to increased crime

• Mechanism

  Release from custody without monetary bail or bail bond

• Policy Type

  Pre-trial release

• Associated Concerns

  Higher rates of rearrest for new felonies and violent crimes (Yolo County studies)

• Implementation Context

  Often implemented during COVID-19 pandemic to prevent outbreaks in jails

• Scope (Los Angeles County)

  Misdemeanors and specific non-violent felonies

• Stated Purpose (Proponents)

  Reduce jail populations, address equity concerns by eliminating cash bail

• Alternative Name (Los Angeles County)

  Pre-Arraignment Release Protocols (PARP)

Timeline

• Los Angeles County implemented an emergency bail schedule, sometimes referred to as zero bail, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: web_search_results)

  2020-03-17

• A statewide Emergency Bail policy was instituted in California, setting bail at $0 for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies to reduce jail populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: web_search_results)

  2020-04-19

• Yolo County District Attorney reported over 300 new crimes committed by individuals released on $0 bail. (Source: web_search_results)

  2020-10-01

• Yolo County District Attorney reported over 628 new crimes committed by individuals released on $0 bail. (Source: web_search_results)

  2021-02-08

• Yolo County District Attorney reported that 70% of those released on $0 bail committed new crimes. (Source: web_search_results)

  2022-08-08

• Yolo County District Attorney released a case study concluding that zero bail policies increased crime in every category. (Source: web_search_results)

  2023-02-14

• The zero-bail system, officially named Pre-Arraignment Release Protocols (PARP), largely eliminated the existing cash bail system for most crimes in Los Angeles County. (Source: web_search_results)

  2023-10-01

• Yolo County District Attorney released a revised study comparing zero bail vs. posted bail, finding suspects released on zero-dollar bail were more likely to be rearrested. (Source: web_search_results)

  2024-01-19

Bail

Bail is a set of pre-trial restrictions that are imposed on a suspect to ensure that they will not hamper the judicial process. Court bail may be offered to secure the conditional release of a defendant with the promise to appear in court when required. In some countries, especially the United States, bail usually implies a bail bond, a deposit of money or some form of property to the court by the suspect in return for the release from pre-trial detention. If the suspect does not return to court, the bail is forfeited and the suspect may be charged with the crime of failure to appear. If the suspect returns to make all their required appearances, bail is returned after the trial is concluded. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, bail is more likely to consist of a set of restrictions that the suspect will have to abide by for a set period of time. Under this usage, bail can be given both before and after charge. Bail offered before charge is known as pre-charge or police bail, to secure the suspect's release under investigation. For minor crimes, a defendant may be summoned to court without the need for bail, or may be released on recognizance (promising to appear in court, with no bail required) following arraignment. For serious crimes, or for suspects who are deemed likely to fail to turn up in court, they may be remanded (detained) while awaiting trial. A suspect is given bail in cases where remand is not justified but there is a need to provide an incentive for the suspect to appear in court. Bail amounts may vary depending on the type and severity of crime the suspect is accused of; practices for determining bail amounts vary.

Web Search Results

• Zero-bail policy takes effect in Los Angeles County, ending ... - ABC7

  The zero-bail system, officially dubbed by the Los Angeles Superior Court as Pre-Arraignment Release Protocols, or PARP, largely eliminates the existing cash bail system for all but the most serious of crimes. Most people arrested on suspicion on non-violent or non-serious offenses will either be cited and released in the field or booked and released at a police or sheriff's station with orders to appear in court on a specific date for arraignment once they are actually charged with a crime. [...] LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A controversial zero-bail policy is now in effect in Los Angeles County, ending the years-long standard of setting cash bail amounts for defendants commensurate with the severity of the crime they are accused of committing -- a process critics say favors the rich while doing little to protect public safety. The new policy eliminates the existing cash bail system for all but the most serious of crimes. [...] It ushers in a major change in how the court system deals with people who are arrested and how long they stay in custody. The zero-bail will apply to misdemeanors and specific non-violent felonies. "This change just applies to a tiny segment of the pretrial system," says Jeff Stein from Civil Rights Corps. "It's just about that window between when a person is arrested and when they see a judge in LA. That can last up to five days."

• Zero Bail Policy in Los Angeles County - Eisner Gorin LLP

  The zero bail system, called “Pre-Arraignment Release Protocols (PARP)” by the Los Angeles Superior Court, essentially eliminates the existing cash bail system for all but the most serious crimes . Most people who are arrested for non-violent or non-serious offenses will either be: Cited and released in the field or.

• Zero Bail | Yolo County District Attorney

  In an attempt to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak amongst prisoners and jail staff, a statewide Emergency Bail policy was instituted on April 19, 2020. The Emergency Bail Policy set bail $0 (zero dollars) for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, with exceptions specifically listed. The Emergency Bail was to be in effect for 90 days after the governor declared the state of emergency lifted. [...] ### Zero Bail Press Releases Zero Bail Case Study – Zero Bail Policies Increased Crime in Every Category – February 14, 2023 70% of Those Released on $0 Bail Commit New Crimes – August 8, 2022 Over 628 New Crimes Committed by Individuals Released on $0 Bail – February 8, 2021 Over 300 New Crimes Committed by Individuals Released on $0 Bail – October 1, 2020 West Sacramento Man on Felony Probation and Arrested 5 Times since August 26, 2020 – September 18, 2020 [...] Bail Policy # Zero Bail ### ### Zero Bail Studies Zero Bail vs Posted Bail Study Revised – January 19, 2024 Zero Bail vs Posted Bail Study – February 6, 2023 Yolo County Emergency Bail Analysis – August 5, 2022 ### Zero Bail Press Releases Zero Bail Case Study – Zero Bail Policies Increased Crime in Every Category – February 14, 2023 70% of Those Released on $0 Bail Commit New Crimes – August 8, 2022 Over 628 New Crimes Committed by Individuals Released on $0 Bail – February 8, 2021

• Updated $0 bail study: Suspects released on $0 bail had twice the ...

  The study found suspects released on zero-dollar bail were far more likely to be rearrested, nearly twice as likely to be rearrested for new felonies, and nearly three times as likely to be rearrested for violent crimes. "I mean, those are real victims. From murder to attempted murder to kidnaping to domestic violence," Reisig said. A third of the zero-bail violent crime rearrests were for domestic violence. [...] The new study compared the rearrest rate of suspects who were released without posting bail in Yolo County, to those who had to post bail. The data show suspects released on zero-dollar bail were twice as likely to be rearrested for felonies and three times as likely to be rearrested for violent crimes compared to those who had to post bail. [...] "Zero bail (in California) didn't include any of that," noted DA Reisig. "It was an automatic release as soon as a person committed a qualifying offense." He stressed, in contrast to California's zero bail order, the programs in New Jersey and Kentucky require a risk assessment, and offer additional pretrial services before defendants are released without bail. About two dozen new bail-related bills have been introduced in California so far this year.

• [PDF] The Short-Term Impacts of Bail Policy on Crime in Los Angeles

  . . 51 3 THE SHORT-TERM IMPACTS OF BAIL POLICY ON CRIME IN LOS ANGELES capolicylab.org Executive Summary Since March 2020, Los Angeles County has experienced several distinct shifts in bail policy, shaping how people experience the pretrial process and igniting a dialogue about bail reform, equity, and safety. During the COVID-19 pandemic, LA County implemented an emergency bail schedule for most misdemeanors and low-level felonies (sometimes referred to as “zero bail”). In July 2022, LA County [...] This work is patterned on similar uses of RDiT on crime outcomes by Bullock and Pellegrino (2021) and Mummolo (2018). 11 Models were additionally estimated for March 17, 2020, LA County’s first date of zero bail implementation, but are not included in the main discussion of results because any changes in outcomes estimated for this date cannot be attributed to the emergency bail policy change. Concurrent events at this time included myriad COVID policy responses at the state and local level. [...] In response to the pandemic, on March 17, 2020, Los Angeles County implemented an emergency bail schedule. This was quickly followed by a statewide COVID-19 emergency bail schedule in April 2020, which superseded LA’s schedule and which aimed to reduce statewide jail populations by setting bail at zero dollars for most misdemeanors and low level felonies.4 During its lifespan, the Los Angeles emergency bail schedule applied to an estimated 26% of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) arrests