NCJ Number
78282
Date Published
1980
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article comments on bail bond procedure and the release on recognizance (ROR) programs in Illinois, provides statistics on pretrial release in the State, and discusses bail projects in several jurisdictions throughout the country.
Abstract
Illinois became one of the first States to adopt model bail legislation. This virtually eliminated professional bondsmen, since it permitted a person admitted to bail to deposit 10 percent of the face amount of the bond with the clerk of the court. The deposit was returned when the person appeared for trial. ROR accepts the defendant's promise to appear for trial in lieu of a cash bond. Its purpose is to enable defendants to remain in the community while awaiting trial. Because no circuit maintains bail statistics except Cook County, it is difficult to determine the extent of ROR use. The bail statistics presented illustrate the disparity between circuits in the use of both cash bonds and ROR. Pretrial release programs in Illinois and other States illustrate the diverse ways programs can be organized to provide necessary information for pretrial release. These projects were able to provide adequate information to judges concerning the indigency or reliability of the accused so that ROR bonds could be used more frequently. Tables are included. No references are cited.