NCJ Number
26578
Date Published
1975
Length
67 pages
Annotation
STUDY DESIGNED TO FORM A GENERAL MODEL OF BAIL RISK, TO PROVIDE MEASURES OF THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES, AND TO COMPARE THE FORMS OF RELEASE AVAILABLE IN CHARLOTTE TO THE CONTROL OF BAIL RISK PROVIDED.
Abstract
EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY-ONE DEFENDANTS WERE CHOSEN FOR THIS STUDY BY RANDOM SAMPLING OF THE POLICE AND CRIMINAL COURT RECORDS OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, REFLECTING CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS BEGUN BY ARREST DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1973. THE SAMPLE WAS STRATIFIED ON RACE AND OFFENSE TYPE. THE DEPENDENT VARIABLES USED IN THIS ANALYSIS WERE FAILURE TO APPEAR IN COURT AND REARREST FOR A NEW OFFENSE. SEVERAL INDEPENDENT VARIABLES WERE ANALYZED INCLUDING SEX, AGE, LOCAL RESIDENCE, EMPLOYMENT, AND CRIMINAL HISTORY. THE PROCEDURE ADOPTED WAS TO ADJUST FOR TIME AT RISK (TIME BETWEEN RELEASE ON BAIL AND TRIAL) AND TO COMPARE THE EFFECTS OF CRIMINAL HISTORY, FORM OF RELEASE, AND OTHER VARIABLES. THE FOUR FORMS OF RELEASE CONSIDERED WERE BONDSMAN RELEASE, CASH BOND RELEASE, 'PTR' RELEASE, AND MAGISTRATE RELEASE. RESEARCHERS CONCLUDED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS AFFECTING BAIL RISK WERE TIME AT RISK, CRIMINAL HISTORY, AND FORM OF RELEASE. FACTORS DETERMINED TO BE OF LITTLE OR NO IMPORTANCE WERE SEX, AGE, INCOME, RACE, EMPLOYMENT STATUS, LOCAL RESIDENCE, AND TYPE OF OFFENSE CHARGED. THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF RELEASE IS ALSO ANALYZED. TABLES OF DATA FROM THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ARE INCLUDED AT THE END OF THE REPORT, ALONG WITH SEVERAL GRAPHS OF 'SURVIVAL RATES' OF DEFENDANT GROUPED BY DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT VARIABLES.