Bail Reform Case Study

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Bail decisions invariably fall within the purview of the judiciary; judicial officers, also referred to as bail authorities, determine and decide pretrial release or pretrial detention. The twofold criteria for all forms of release on bail are flight risk and future dangerousness to society. There are legislative or statutory laws that extend conditional rights to defendants to be released on bail, as well as constitutional safeguards to these rights that the bail shall not be excessive. This is a universally and formally acclaimed due process right, which evokes presumption of innocence and humanitarian consideration. Hence, bail shall be viewed not only as a matter of legal rights but also as an ethical issue. It is an issue of justice, …show more content…

The Bail Reform Act of 1984 legitimized pretrial detention so long as the release of the defendant “will not reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required or will endanger the safety of any other person or the community” (§3141(c)). The act also requires a mandatory pretrial detention hearing and a revocation hearing in open court, in which the defendant enjoys the rights to a defense counsel, to cross-examine government witnesses, and to present evidence in his or her favor, as well as appeal rights in case of denial of bail. The act further sets the procedural parameters of “standard of proof” (preponderance of evidence), admissibility of “hearsay evidence,” and “burden of persuasion” (on the government) about flight risk and future dangerousness. The act also requires that detention orders shall be provided in writing with clear and convincing “finding of facts” and “statements of reason.” One of the unique features in the act is the incorporation of sentence enhancing provisions for new crimes committed while free on bail, that is, up to one year for a misdemeanor and up to 10 years for a felony to be added to the penalty of the new

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