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DeKalb officials weigh expanding weekend bond hearings to reduce jail stays
Summary
DeKalb County commissioners and court leaders discussed a proposal to expand weekend first‑appearance/bond calendars to reduce time people spend in jail before hearings. Judges and prosecutors said the county already runs extensive weekend coverage but warned expansion requires more staff, space and funding.
Commissioner Ted Terry, chair of the DeKalb County Finance, Administration and Budget (FAB) Committee, opened a virtual discussion about whether the county should expand weekend court calendars to reduce pretrial jail stays.
The conversation brought judges, the solicitor general, the public defender, marshals and sheriff’s office leaders to the same virtual table. Chief Magistrate Judge Beryl Anderson said DeKalb already runs misdemeanor bond hearings seven days a week and felony bond hearings six days a week but that adding more calendar days would require additional judges, space and resources. “We already have misdemeanor bond hearings 7 days a week, and we have felony bond…
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