California is rescinding its ‘zero bail’ policy. The state rule allowed people arrested for minor offenses to be quickly released without paying bail. The California Judicial Council established the policy for most misdemeanor and low-level felonies in order to keep the jail population lower during the onset of the coronavirus crisis.
In places like the Terminal Island federal facility in San Pedro, there have been multiple inmate deaths and hundreds of cases among inmates and staff.
Some police agencies complained about the move, noting instances of suspects committing crimes, getting arrested, released and then committing additional crimes in the very same day. In May, Glendora police arrested and released a man without bail three times in the same day for trying to steal cars and other property.
The Judicial County of California’s vote to end the policy passed 17-2 this week and will officially be over on June 20. The Council says the policy could be re-instated if health conditions worsen or change.
Ryan Piers 247 Newssource
