EVALUATION OF THE BAIL SYSTEM IN CHARLOTTEMECKLENBURG, 1971-1972

• NCJ Number: 10527
• Author(s): S H CLARKE
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 42 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-NI-04-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of North Carolina
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: MECKLENBURG CRIMINAL JUSTICE PILOT PROJECT

Annotation

THE SUCCESS OF THE BAIL SYSTEM IS JUDGED BY BAIL OPPORTUNITY, NONAPPEARANCE RATES, AND RATES OF REARREST FOR NEW CHARGES WHILE ON BAIL.

Abstract

CONCLUSIONS ARE THAT - (1) THE BAIL SYSTEM IMPROVED FROM 1971 TO 1972 IN THAT NONAPPEARANCE RATES DROPPED, (2) DEFENDANTS RELEASE BY BONDSMEN IN 1972 HAD MUCH LOWER NONAPPEARANCE RATES THAN IN 1971, (3) DEFENDANTS RELEASED BY THE NEW PRE-TRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM HAVE LOWER NONAPPEARANCE RATES THAN OTHERS, (4) PRE-TRIAL RELEASE IS RELEASING MAINLY THOSE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY MAGISTRATES FORMERLY, AND IS TAKING FEW CLIENTS AWAY FROM BONDSMEN, (5) THE DATA SUGGEST THAT PRESENT LOW NONAPPEARANCE RATES FOR THE TYPE OF DEFENDANT NOW RELEASED BY PRE-TRIAL RELEASE IS DUE TO SELECTION OF DEFENDANTS, NOT POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION, (6) PRE-TRIAL RELEASE DESERVES CREDIT FOR ENDING BAIL DISADVANTAGE OF BLACK AND LOW INCOME DEFENDANTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)