Pretrial Decision-Making, Perceptions of Justice, and Criminal Legal Outcomes in the Light of Bail Policy Changes

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

The panel presents research on pretrial decision making, perceptions of justice, and criminal legal outcomes in the light of bail policy changes in different jurisdictions. The first study examines the impact of New York’s 2023 bail reform amendments on bail-setting and pretrial decisions statewide and with breakdowns by region, charge, and demographics, comparing the prevalence of different outcomes before and after the implementation date. The second study uses traditional quantitative and machine learning methods identifying predictors of failure to appear in court among cases arraigned in New York in 2022, providing a guide to pretrial decision making in the post-bail reform and post-pandemic era. The third study interviewed people accused of crimes in four Illinois counties to assess how they experienced the bond court process pre- and post-implementation of the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA). The final study estimates the effects of bail policy shifts in Los Angeles that occurred between 2021 and 2024 on jail population, arrests, and crime.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 43. Pretrial Justice

Individual Presentations

• Failure to Appear Across New York Regions - Rene Ropac, Data Collaborative for Justice (DCJ) at John Jay College

• Bond Court Reform in Illinois: Experiences and Perceptions of Justice-Involved People - Elizabeth Webster, Loyola University Chicago

• The Impact of Bail Reforms on Jail Population and Crime in Los Angeles - Thomas Sloan, California Policy Lab