Pretrial Release, Self-Surrender, and Compassionate Release: The Effects of Covid-19 on Defendants in one Federal District

• In Event: The Impact of COVID 19 on Courts and Case Processing

Abstract

Beginning in March 2020, Covid-19 had immediate effects on court and correctional systems in the United States. As has been well-documented, the pandemic had (and continues to have) an outsized impact on people incarcerated in jails and prisons. Using data from a qualitative research project on federal sentencing that was underway when the pandemic hit, this study examines the impacts of Covid-19 on defendants sentenced in early 2020 in the Central District of California. Using data from PACER, we look at the extent to which the pandemic impacted these defendants’ cases post-sentencing. In particular, we highlight the use of delays in self-surrender dates for defendants on pretrial supervision as well as the expanded use of compassionate release.

Authors

• Christine Scott-Hayward, California State University, Long Beach

• Connie Ireland, California State University, Long Beach