NCJ Number
80158
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Dated: (1981) Pages: 156-167
Date Published
1981
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article traces the origins and history of the Toronto-York Bail Program (Canada) and discusses how this program has responded to each of seven areas common to most new bail programs.
Abstract
In 1979, the Ontario Ministry of Corrections was faced with a choice of building more jails or launching new community alternatives. Studies indicated that over half the persons in jail were awaiting trial. In Canada, bail bondsmen are illegal, although a few operate illegally. This means that an accused person who lacks financial resources in the community is left with no alternative but to await his trial in jail. Yet the purpose of the surety system is not to raise money, but to insure suitable community supervision of the accused, and to give him incentive to appear in the court at the proper time. The Toronto-York Bail Program is concerned with those who cannot provide the appropriate surety. The program emerged after the Ontario Ministry of Corrections was faced with the problem of severe jail overcrowding in 1979. However, a number of common problems had to be solved in beginning the program, including access to newly arrested persons; space needs for the program; civil liberties issues surrounding verification (in which trained persons interview accused persons soon after the police interrogation); and public relations. Other problems were enforcement issues and procedures on supervision; hiring and training of personnel and other standard agency problems; and community resources liaison and development. The article explains how these problems were solved. A concluding section notes that the program is now completing 400-500 verifications a month; about 375 persons are on supervision. Two references are given.