Cash Bail

Op-ed | Enlarge the Jail? Sacramento County’s Misstep

By Mark DempseyAugust 12, 2026

Sacramento County is scheduled to convene a public listening session on August 27 concerning its “Jail System Master Planning.” The initiative has drawn criticism from author Mark Dempsey, who argues the county’s framework disproportionately emphasizes carceral expansion while overlooking more cost-effective social services and crime prevention alternatives. Dempsey contends this approach neglects systemic issues, such as the detention of unconvicted individuals due to bail inability, advocating for solutions like supervised release and community-based programs.

YoloCourt

Family Urges Judge to Revoke Bail as Prosecutor Cites Unmet Release Condition

By Kailyn StandiferAugust 11, 2026

A Yolo County Superior Court judge declined to revoke or increase the $25,000 bail for an individual facing a felony murder charge, despite prosecutorial arguments and pleas from the victims’ family. Judge Paul Richardson affirmed the existing bail amount, even as Deputy District Attorney Aloysisus Patchen cited the accused’s failure to install a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM) device, a stipulated condition of release.

YoloCourt

Yolo Judge Sets $10,000 Bail for Low-Income Accused after Missed Court Date

By Kailyn StandiferAugust 5, 2026

Yolo County Superior Court Judge Paul Richardson revoked the supervised own recognizance (SOR) release of an accused individual and set bail at $10,000 after a missed court appearance. The judicial action, which occurred during a pretrial conference, has drawn attention to the implications of monetary bail for defendants with limited financial resources. This development underscores ongoing concerns regarding the intersection of poverty and the pretrial justice system, particularly in light of California’s *In re Humphrey* decision.

Judge Acknowledges Rehabilitation but Declines Defense’s Request for Greater Bail Reduction

By Aidan LeeJuly 30, 2026

A Harbor Justice Center judge partially reduced bail for a young man facing a probation violation stemming from a prior DUI conviction, even as defense counsel argued his completion of an intensive alcohol rehabilitation program and continued residential treatment warranted a more substantial reduction. The ruling highlighted the ongoing tension between judicial discretion, supporting rehabilitative efforts, and the application of cash bail in probation violation cases.

Denver Judge Reinstates Bond, Jailing Woman with No Income Despite Diversion

By Farhana IslamJuly 24, 2026

Denver District Court Judge Anita M. Schutte denied a request for personal recognizance, ordering an individual accused of two Class 3 drug felonies to remain in custody after reinstating a $5,000 bond. The ruling cited a prolonged period of failure to appear, notwithstanding defense counsel’s arguments regarding the accused’s lack of prior criminal history, caretaking obligations, and the case’s previous consideration for diversion.

Queens Judge Lifts $10,000 Bail Days after Setting It, Releasing Accused under Supervision Conditions

By Farhana IslamJune 24, 2026

A Queens Criminal Court judge issued an order releasing an accused individual on nonmonetary conditions in a domestic violence case, thereby superseding a $10,000 cash bail previously imposed five days earlier. This judicial action occurred after the court ascertained the accused was concurrently subject to nonmonetary supervision in a distinct New York County Supreme Court proceeding.

Op-ed | Jail Talk – Follow Up on the Jail Master Plan

By Mark Dempsey
April 27, 2026

The Sacramento County Jail Master Plan was discussed in a listening session, which revealed that poverty is a major driver of crime and that the County’s current system is not addressing the root causes of crime, such as economic instability, housing insecurity, and lack of healthcare and education.