NCJ Number
45287
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (1977) Pages: 321-328
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE SETTING OF BOND IN A FIRST APPERANCE COURT IN ONE FLORIDA JUDICIAL DISTRICT WAS EXAMINED TO DETERMINE ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH OFFICIAL STANDARDS.
Abstract
THE STANDARDS UNDER CONSIDERATION WERE BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS. EIGHTEEN MEASURES OF FIVE DIFFERENT RECOMMENDED STANDARDS WERE CONSIDERED. ONLY SERIOUSNESS OF CHARGE SHOWED APPARENT STRENGTH IN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH BOND. A 'FACILITY HYPOTHESIS' (I.E., THAT COURT OFFICIALS GRAVITATED TOWARD FACTORS SUCH AS SERIOUSNESS OF CHARGE) IS SUGGESTED, WHICH MAY BE READILY PROCESSED AND UNDERSTOOD WITHIN CONSTRAINTS OF TIME AND ORGANIZATION. IN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OF THIS HYPOTHESIS, DEFENDANTS' DEMEANOR IN COURT IS ALSO SHOWN TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO BOND IN THE PRESENT STUDY. THESE LEGAL AND PERSONAL CRITERIA MAY BE MORE IDENTIFIED AS INDICATORS OF DEFENDANTS' CULPABILITY THAN MANY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE STUDY COMMISSIONS. USE OF OTHER OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS MAY REQUIRE CHANGES IN THE CONCEPTS OF DEFENDANTS HELD BY COURT PERSONNEL OR DRASTIC CHANGES IN THE ORGANIZATION OF FIRST APPEARANCE IN COURT. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE FURNISHED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--VDA)