NCJ Number
82914
Journal
Criminal Law Bulletin Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (May/June 1982) Pages: 228-240
Date Published
1982
Length
13 pages
Annotation
To test the argument against bail reform, the authors review the findings of contemporary studies on the effects of pretrial custody on conviction, sentencing, and pretrial misconduct.
Abstract
The results of this survey indicate that pretrial custody has no significant effect on conviction outcome but is an important factor at the sentencing stage. In terms of pretrial misconduct, the data indicated no relationship between type of bail and court appearance of rearrest rate. The proportion of bonded persons who escaped prosecution was low, ranging from 6 percent to 2 percent. Based on these findings the article offers three strategies to combat bail abuse other than a general restriction of bail: speedier trials, reducing the extent of multiple arrests during the pretrial period, and improving methods of supervision of bonded defendants. (Publisher abstract)