BAIL AND ITS REFORM - A NATIONAL SURVEY

• NCJ Number: 11447
• Author(s): P B WICE
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 514 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-157
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATION, 1972

Annotation

EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF PRETRIAL RELEASE IN THE UNITED STATES, EXAMINING THE TRADITIONAL BAIL SYSTEM AND BAIL REFORM PROJECTS.

Abstract

ON THE BASIS OF INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED IN ELEVEN LARGE CITIES, THE FIRST SECTION OF THE DISSERTATION DESCRIBES THE FACILITIES, PROCEDURES, AND PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE TRADITIONAL BAIL SYSTEM. PART TWO DISCUSSES VARIOUS BAIL REFORM PROJECTS AND IDENTIFIES KEY OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS CONTRIBUTING TO PROJECT EFFECTIVENESS. THE FINAL SECTION, BASED ON A NATIONAL MAILED SURVEY, EXAMINES NATIONAL TRENDS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD PRETRIAL RELEASE. INCLUDED ARE RELEASE, DETENTION, FORFEITURE, AND REARREST RATES, COMPUTED FOR BOTH TRADITIONAL AND REFORM PROGRAMS. THIS STUDY FOUND THAT INCREASED NUMBERS OF DEFENDANTS COULD BE RELEASED PRIOR TO THEIR TRIAL ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE WITHOUT A RISE IN FORFEITURE OR CRIME RATES. THE ONLY DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLE WHICH WAS STATISTICALLY RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF A BAIL SYSTEM WAS A CITY'S POPULATION. THE ATTITUDINAL STUDY DISCLOSED THAT THE LARGE MAJORITY OF RESPONDANTS, WHO RECOGNIZED THAT THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF BAIL WAS INEFFECTIVE, WERE UNABLE TO AGREE ON WHAT TYPES OF MODIFICATIONS AND REFORMS WERE NECESSARY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)