This booklet summarizes appellate case law rulings on various provisions of the Federal 1984 Bail Reform Act from October 12, 1984, the effective date of the act, to January 13, 1987.
With few exceptions, this report provides only the case holdings. Cases pertaining to pretrial release focus on release on personal recognizance, conditional release, written findings, and revocation and modification of release. Cases regarding pretrial detention address statutory grounds, factors to be considered, flight, dangerousness, the detention hearing, rebuttable presumptions, evidence, hearings involving multiple defendants, written findings, and 10-day detention. Cases on modification of the detention order ruled on changed circumstances and detention length. Rulings on release or detention pending appeal focus on release requirements, the definitions of 'substantial question' and 'likely,' applicability, and findings. Cases regarding sanctions cover failure to appear, an offense while on release, and violation of a release condition. Other cases address district court review, release or detention pending sentencing, and the release or detention of a material witness. A table of cases and the text of the act.