Bail Reform Archives - Page 2 of 12

California Supreme Court Ruling Exposes Unconstitutional Pretrial Detention

By Damiyah JohnsonMay 20, 20260 comments

The California Supreme Court issued a ruling clarifying that monetary conditions of release must be set at an attainable amount, based on a defendant’s financial circumstances. The decision underscored that pretrial liberty constitutes the norm, with detention before conviction intended as a limited exception, and further mandated that judges consider nonmonetary release conditions prior to imposing money bail or outright detention.

Court Watch: Defense Challenges Probable Cause in Online Threat Arrest

By Kailyn StandiferMay 20, 20260 comments

During an arraignment hearing in Yolo County Superior Court, Deputy Public Defender Martha Sequeira challenged the sufficiency of probable cause for the detention of an individual accused of felony criminal threats online, drug possession, and related enhancements. Sequeira contended that the prosecution failed to establish the online account’s ownership and argued that arresting officers lacked adequate probable cause for the initial arrest. While Deputy District Attorney Alvina Tzang asserted that witness testimony sufficiently identified the accused as the account owner, Judge Danette C. Brown determined the accused did not pose a public danger, subsequently issuing a stay-away order protecting the victim. Bail considerations were deferred to a subsequent hearing.

Court Watch: Judge Denies Release for Unhoused Accused, Sets Bail at $5,000 Despite Financial Hardship

By Ashley Block, Katelyn LeongMay 18, 20260 comments

Yolo County Superior Court Judge Danette Brown denied release for an accused woman facing felony second-degree robbery charges during a recent arraignment hearing, establishing bail at $5,000. The ruling, which cited the defendant’s documented history of failing to appear in court and concerns regarding her housing status, was issued despite defense counsel’s arguments detailing financial hardship and proposing a nominal bail amount.

House Passes Divisive Justice Bills, Draws Fire from Reform Advocates

By David M. GreenwaldMay 15, 20260 comments

Legislation addressing federal criminal justice, specifically H.R. 5625 and H.R. 6260 concerning bail reform, and H.R. 8365 regarding police oversight, passed the U.S. House of Representatives, eliciting sharply contrasting reactions from reform advocates and law enforcement organizations. These legislative developments underscored national divisions over pretrial detention policies, federal oversight of policing, and the interplay between local control and federal intervention.

NYC Criminal Legal System Shows Uneven Administration, Report Finds

By Ria Bagga, Fabiola MartinezMay 3, 20260 comments

A new report from John Jay College’s Data Collaborative for Justice finds wide disparities in arrests, prosecution decisions, bail practices and sentencing outcomes across New York City boroughs, highlighting the role of prosecutors and judges in shaping case outcomes and the possibility that outcomes may depend heavily on geography.

California Supreme Court Clarifies Limits on Bail, Reaffirms Right to Pretrial Release

By David M. GreenwaldApril 30, 20260 comments

The California Supreme Court ruled that courts may not deny bail outside narrow constitutional categories and generally may not set bail at levels a person cannot afford, reaffirming that pretrial liberty is the norm.

Court Watch: Judge Sets $2,500 Bail After Public Defender Challenges Amount as Excessive

By Hannah BriseñoApril 21, 20260 comments

A judge set $2,500 bail for an accused person in Newport Beach, despite the public defender arguing the amount was excessive and unconstitutional, due to the accused’s inability to pay, and the judge taking into consideration the accused’s prior failures to appear in court.

Bail Reduced for Defendant in Newport Beach Financial Crimes Case

By Peter WuMarch 9, 20260 comments

Judge Derek G. Johnson reduced bail for a defendant facing multiple financial-related felony charges, but questions remain about whether the accused can afford release despite the reduction.

Opinion | Everyday Injustice Right Before My Eyes

By David M. GreenwaldMarch 4, 202613 comments

Judge Frankel made a difficult decision to keep a man in custody after he violated his release terms, despite the fact that the violation was minor, as the court had already tried a less restrictive option and it had failed.

Court Watch: Judge Denies Bail Increase for Woman Facing New Burglary Charges

By Ryan NguyenMarch 3, 20260 comments

A Yolo County Superior Court judge declined to increase bail for a woman facing new burglary charges, citing her appearance in court as assurance she would return for future proceedings, despite her having seven felony theft priors in the past four years.

California Court Finalizes Class-Action Judgment Barring Bail Bond Company from Coercing Cosigners

By Jettie HortonFebruary 27, 20260 comments

The Supreme Court of California has approved a class-action settlement barring Bad Boys Bail Bonds from coercing low-income families to cosign bail agreements for their imprisoned loved ones, formally closing litigation that spanned from 2019 to 2022.

Court Watch: Sacramento Judge Denies Release for Accused Petty Thief with Autistic Son

By William TrevorFebruary 18, 20260 comments

A Sacramento County Superior Court judge denied an accused man’s request for release on his own recognizance pending trial on a petty theft charge, citing his prior felony history and failures to appear as indicators that he would not comply with court orders.

Court Watch: Judge Sets $5,000 Bail for Man Who Says He Cannot Pay

By Teagan BriggsFebruary 17, 20260 comments

A judge in Orange County set $5,000 bail for a man who has been in jail for seven months, raising questions about the fairness of cash bail in the court system.

Racial Disparities Persist in New York’s Bail System Despite Reform Efforts

By Benjamin BorghiFebruary 7, 20260 comments

New York’s bail reform law has led to a decrease in bail-setting and pretrial detention, but bail has become less affordable and racial disparities persist, according to a new statewide report.

Community Coalition to Release New Report on Fulton County Jail Overcrowding

By Kayla BetuliusJanuary 25, 20260 comments

The ACLU of Georgia released a report documenting chronic overcrowding at the Fulton County Jail, which has led to 32 deaths since 2021, and outlining policy changes to reduce the jail population and improve conditions.

Court Watch: Court Rejects $10,000 Bail for Pregnant Accused in Yolo County Case

By Peter Wu, Jimena MendezJanuary 23, 20260 comments

Judge Danette C. Brown released the accused on supervised own-recognizance, rejecting a proposed $10,000 bail due to her pregnancy and financial circumstances, and citing her active participation in drug assistance programs.

Report Finds Growing Trend of Limiting Pretrial Protections in States

By Ariana AmiriJanuary 17, 20260 comments

The Bail Project released a report showing that states are quietly changing their constitutions to make it easier to keep people in jail before trial, even though they have not been convicted of a crime, and that this trend is happening with little public awareness.

Court Watch: Unhoused Man Denied SOR Release, Bail Remains at $150,000 in Yolo County

By Tyler Harty-RollinsJanuary 16, 20260 comments

A Yolo County judge denied a defense request to release an unhoused accused man on supervised own recognizance and rejected a request to reduce his scheduled $150,000 bail in a felony assault case, citing the accused’s extensive criminal history and the court’s discretionary authority.

Court Watch: Judge Denies Supervised Release for Unhoused Man, Sets $50,000 Bail

By Benjamin Borghi, Ryan NguyenJanuary 14, 20260 comments

A Yolo County Superior Court judge denied a request for supervised release for an unhoused man with a long history of missed court dates, setting bail at $50,000, effectively ensuring his continued detention.

Court Watch: Judge Raises Bail to $50,000 in Yolo County Fraud Case

By Katelyn Leong, Liliana CiprianoJanuary 13, 20260 comments

Bail was set at $50,000 for a non-English-speaking accused in a fraud case involving elderly individuals in Yolo and Stanislaus counties, despite arguments from the defense that the increase lacked a sufficient factual basis.

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