NCJ Number
114527
Date Published
1988
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This study examined pretrial release and risks associated with it in data for 715 defendants arrested in Catawba County, N.C. in 1986.
Abstract
Of these all but 6 percent received some form of pretrial release. The conditions of release usually were set by a magistrate and included bail bonds secured by a professional bondsman or an accommodation bondman, cash deposit, unsecured supervision, written promise to return, or release under someone's supervision. Most defendants were released within one day of arrest, but quite a few were detained for longer periods and contributed disproportionately to the pretrial jail population. Compared to rates elsewhere in the State and the country, rates of failure to appear and arrest for new offenses while released were relatively low: 10 percent of releasees failed to appear for at least one scheduled court date, although only 23 percent of these eventually returned to court. Failure to appear rates were quite similar regardless of conditions of release. The new crime rate among releasees was 11 percent (3 percent felonies and 8 percent misdemeanors). The combined failure rate (failure to appear, new crime, or both) was much higher for defendants with professional bondsmen. Type of charge, race, sex, and County residence failed to predict prerelease risk. Risk was predicted by number of prior convictions, probation or parole status, prior failure to appear, prerelease status at arrest, and age. Both prosecution and forfeiture of bond were underutilized by the courts in cases involving failure to appear. 11 figures and 39 footnotes. (Author abstract modified)