The Zero Bail policy in California marked a transformative moment in the state’s approach to pretrial detentions. Traditionally, the cash bail system required defendants to pay a set amount to secure their release before trial. This system faced criticism for disproportionately affecting lower-income individuals who couldn’t afford bail. The introduction of Zero Bail, which set bail at zero for most misdemeanours and lower-level felonies, aimed to address these disparities.
However, a study by UCLA and UC Berkeley revealed that the policy has not fundamentally changed bail practices as intended. Key findings include:
- No significant decrease in California’s pretrial jail population.
- Bail amounts across the state remain largely unchanged.
- The average length of pretrial detention has not been reduced.
These findings suggest that despite the introduction of Zero Bail, the desired outcomes are yet to materialize fully.