Bail reform

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that judges must consider suspects’ ability to pay when they set bail, essentially requiring that indigent defendants be freed unless they are deemed too dangerous to be released awaiting trial.

George Gascon says he’s planning to put into place his reform efforts. Eric Leonard reports for the NBC4 News on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020.

Newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon on Monday outlined sweeping plans for criminal justice reform as he was sworn-in to office, including major changes in how cases are charged, the use of cash bail, the removal of sentencing enhancements, and an expansion of efforts to overturn unjust convictions.

The movement to eradicate bail from America’s justice system will face a crucial test Nov. 3, when California voters will decide whether to end the centuries-old practice of trading money for freedom and replace it with algorithms that try to predict whether defendants deserve to be released before trial. If the ballot measure known as Proposition 25 passes, California will…

Proposition 25 would uphold Senate Bill 10, which would replace cash bail with risk assessments for detained suspects awaiting trials. NBC4’s Conan Nolan explains.

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