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Study session examines reinstating $0 bail; court explained limits and county requested data to inform magistrate reviews
Summary
The committee held a study session on reinstating a $0 bail schedule, hearing presentations from county administration, the district attorney, the superior court, pretrial services and community advocates.
The Public Safety and Justice Committee held a study session on reinstating a $0 bail schedule in Santa Clara County, bringing together county administration, the District Attorney's Office, the Superior Court, pretrial services and community advocates.
County administration (Casey Halkin, Deputy County Executive) and the District Attorney's Office framed the county's jail-population data. Administration noted that Santa Clara's jail population dropped sharply at the start of the COVID pandemic and during local $0 bail implementation; since then the population has risen but remains substantially below pre-pandemic levels. The administration said the county's investments in pretrial services, diversion and collaboration among system partners helped keep the jail population from returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Assistant District Attorney David Angel summarized the practical operation of bail and pretrial release in the county: judges adopt an annual bail schedule but, in practice, many custody decisions occur…
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