While state and federal lawmakers continue to grapple with bail reform, Santa Clara County moved ahead Tuesday with a wide-ranging plan that includes creating a nonprofit fund to post bonds for low-risk defendants who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
The fund is believed to be the first in California, cementing the county’s role as a statewide leader in a national reform movement. Bail reform advocates, including local police chiefs and civil rights leaders, argue that bail has become an unfair burden on the poor, allowing moneyed defendants to stay free while those who can’t afford bond languish behind bars awaiting their day in court.
“They are one of our model sites in the country, pushing the envelope as far it can go,’’ said Cherise Fanno Burdeen, CEO of the Maryland-based Pretrial Justice Institute, adding that she knows of no other jurisdiction with such a fund in California.
To read more of Tracey Kaplan and Eric Kurhi's article, please click here.
Comments (0)