Topic: Pretrial and Bail

Report

Human Toll of Jail Jail Populations Pretrial and Bail May 14, 2015

Incarceration’s Front Door

The Vera Institute of Justice

Local jails, which exist in nearly every town and city in America, are built to hold people deemed too dangerous to release pending trial or at high risk of flight. This, however, is no longer primarily what jails do or whom they hold, as people too poor to post bail languish there and racial disparities disproportionately impact communities of color. This report reviews existing research and data to take a deeper look at our nation’s misuse of local jails and to determine how we arrived at this point. It also highlights jurisdictions that have taken steps to mitigate negative consequences, all with the aim of informing local policymakers and their constituents who are interested in reducing recidivism, improving public safety, and promoting stronger, healthier communities.

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Report

Interagency Collaboration Jail Populations Pretrial and Bail May 14, 2015

Reducing Reliance on Local Jails

Urban Institute

The causes of jail population increases and crowding are numerous, but most experts cite a rising number of pretrial detainees, the increased use of jails for housing persons who would otherwise be in state facilities, and a greater number of probation and parole violators as the key contributors to crowding. This paper synthesizes The Urban Institute’s experiences and lessons learned while evaluating local criminal justice system-reform efforts, along with knowledge of the literature pertaining to the topic. It provides an overview of the promising strategies emerging from the field, a logic model illustrating the necessary inputs and activities that are designed to yield reduced reliance on jails, and a recommended implementation and evaluation strategy of such a model.

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Report

Data Analysis Jail Populations Pretrial and Bail May 4, 2015

Rational and Transparent Bail Decisionmaking

Pretrial Justice Institute

Money-based bail systems do not do the job they’re supposed to do—protecting the safety of the community while the defendant’s case is pending, and assuring the appearance of the defendant in court. Instead, the practice of using money to decide pretrial release has wasted taxpayer dollars and played a significant role in contributing to the mass incarceration. This white paper outlines the problems surrounding the current cash-based bail bond process and documents current successful models for moving toward a risk-based bail process.

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