NCJ Number
88159
Date Published
1982
Length
55 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the scope and methods of an evaluation of California Assembly Bill 2, Chapter 873, Statutes of 1979, which sets up new pretrial release procedures that remove some of the costs of bail for certain defendants, and summarizes the viewpoints of criminal justice practitioners.
Abstract
The research design includes an impact design entailing an intensive defendant-based case tracking data system for 11 municipal courts in 4 counties. This design will compare the 1980 failure-to-appear rates, pretrial crime, municipal court operating costs, and pretrial detention rates with subsequent years to determine the impact of the new law. The research design also includes a process evaluation component focusing on changes in police, court, and corrections practices both affecting and being affected by the legislation. Process data will be drawn from onsite interviews with legislators and criminal justice officials and from questionnaires. The perceptions of these officials toward the bill are cited. Study data are included.