NCJ Number
129927
Journal
Research Bulletin Issue: 29 Dated: (1990) Pages: 23-27
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Statistics from monitoring systems that are included in the bail information systems established in Great Britain indicate that providing bail information on defendants increases their chances of being bailed rather than detained.
Abstract
These systems arose from the concern of the Association of Chief Officers of Probation (ACOP) about the growing numbers of detained defendants. Therefore, ACOP and the Crown Prosecution Service agreed that the probation service would seek factual, verified, and favorable information about defendants' social circumstances and community ties to balance the information provided by the police and allow more informed decisions about bail. Eight pilot bail information systems were established between 1986 and 1987, and 70 magistrates' courts had these systems by 1990. The systems include continuous monitoring. In 1989, the detained population fell by 8 percent, the first decrease since 1976. Data from the first year of monitoring show that bail information affects the bail decision both because of its effect on prosecutors' decision whether or not to oppose bail and because of its independent effect on magistrates' decisions. Table and 3 references