Communities, officials react after controversial zero-bail policy takes effect in L.A. County
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The new zero-bail policy takes effect in L.A. County on Saturday, but the controversial law is causing a stir amongst residents and law enforcement officials alike.
The policy would allow some criminal suspects with non-violent or non-serious crimes to be cited and released when they would have previously been held on bond.
A decision was made in July by the Los Angeles County Superior Court to institute the system, but less than 24 hours after the policy was made law, there was already controversy.
Court papers submitted to the L.A. County Superior Court on behalf of a dozen cities claim that the new policy is a threat to public safety.
The 12 communities listed in the suit are:
- Arcadia
- Artesia
- Covina
- Downey
- Glendora
- Industry
- Lakewood
- La Verne
- Palmdale
- Santa Fe Springs
- Whittier
Officials in those communities are looking to delay the program’s implementation or block it altogether.
“Our big hope would be to overturn the zero-bail policy or at least put a pause on it so that we have the ability to take a harder look at it and find out whether or not this is the right thing to do,” said Glendora Mayor Gary Boyer.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore also expressed concern about the county’s new program, saying that the law enforcement community is “averse” to the idea of a zero-bail system.
“Law enforcement is averse to the list of ‘book and release’ offenses because that approach offers little to no deterrence to those involved in a range of serious criminal offenses,” Moore said on social media. “We are asking the court to not release individuals who pose risks to the community’s safety, including those with repeated instances of prior serious offenses.”
Not everyone is against the new ordinance, however.
“A person’s ability to pay a large sum of money should not be the determining factor in deciding whether that person, who is presumed innocent, stays in jail before trial or is released,” said Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner said at the time.
“Pre-trial release should not depend on a person’s risk to public safety…our justice system is not for sale,” L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said. “We cannot conflate bail with accountability. Our community deserves accountability that matches the offense and investments in community interventions that help prevent crime from happening.”
Individuals arrested for more serious crimes will go before a magistrate who will determine alternative “appropriate non-financial pre-arraignment release terms,” the L.A. County Superior Court release said.
Anyone charged with capital offenses or felonies that are eligible for the death penalty will not qualify for the pre-arraignment release.
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