Bad Evidence Got Him Indicted for Murder. He Waited 7 Years to Walk Free.
After 7 years of delays and conflicting evidence, charges against Justine Paul were dismissed in August 2022, costing Alaska taxpayers an estimated $550,000.
Court Watch: Judge Sets Bail above County Schedule in Yolo County Case
A Yolo County judge set bail at more than double the amount recommended under the county’s bail schedule, prompting defense objections that the figure was excessive and unsupported by the record.
New Data Undercuts Claims Behind Expanding Pretrial Detention, Shows 92% Court Return Rate without Cash Bail
The Bail Project has released data showing that 92% of people released without cash bail returned to court, challenging claims used to justify expanding pretrial detention and providing evidence for a fairer and more humane pretrial system.
Bail Project Urges Senate to Reject D.C. Cash Bail Reform Bill
The Bail Project is urging the Senate to reject H.R. 5215, the D.C. Cash Bail Reform Act, which it argues would return Washington, D.C. to a system of mass pretrial detention and wealth-based incarceration, undermining decades of local progress and democratic self-governance.
Rising Jail Population and Mental Health Crisis Threaten Rikers Closure Plan
A new report by the Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay College warns that Rikers Island has become the largest mental health facility in New York City, with 60% of incarcerated individuals requiring mental health care, and recommends expanding community-based treatment options and increasing mental health courts to reduce the jail population.
Court Watch: Judge Denies Release for Woman Charged with Shoplifting and Drug Offenses
A woman with a history of theft and drug offenses was denied bail and will remain in custody on a felony shoplifting charge, with the court continuing the arraignment to Nov. 24 and ordering Pretrial Services to evaluate her for treatment-based supervision options.
SF Public Defender Criticizes DA’s Press Release as ‘Fear Mongering,’ Warns against Expanded Pretrial Detention
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office criticized District Attorney Brooke Jenkins’ recent announcement that eight of eleven people charged with narcotics trafficking in the Tenderloin had been released, arguing that it is a fear-mongering tactic that threatens judicial independence and would further overcrowd jails.
Proposed North Carolina Bill Aims to Reverse Cash Bail Reform
North Carolina lawmakers are set to consider legislation to roll back cash bail reform, while Texas is also considering legislation to limit pretrial release and ban cash bail for certain violent offenses.
California Public Defenders Condemn Trump’s Move on Cashless Bail
President Trump’s executive order to end cashless bail has been denounced by criminal justice reform advocates, who argue that it is a direct attack on constitutional protections and will disproportionately harm low-income people of color.
Court Watch: Judge Upholds $50,000 Bail for Man Accused of Skipping Court Hearing
A San Diego judge upheld a $50,000 bail for a man accused of failing to appear at his arraignment, citing his disregard for court orders and the risk of flight.
Court Watch: Judge Reduces Bail for Unemployed Accused, Still Out of Reach
Judge Derek G. Johnson reduced bail for a woman charged with felony sale or transport of a controlled substance from $50,000 to $25,000, despite her attorney’s request for a further reduction due to her lack of income.
Court Watch: Man Held for Two Years Awaiting Trial in San Francisco Armed Auto Burglary Case
A man accused of armed auto burglary has been held in San Francisco County Jail for over two years, awaiting trial, with his jury trial scheduled for July 14, 2025.
Court Watch: Stolen Property Sentencing Continued; Unjust Bench Warrant
A judge in San Francisco Superior Court denied a request to release a man convicted of felony possession of stolen property, increased his level of supervision, and continued the hearing to July 3, 2025.
STUDY: Immediate and Long Lasting Harms Caused by Single Day in Jail – Social and Economic Impacts of Pretrial Detention
EASTHAMPTON, MASS – For the criminal legal system, pretrial detention is a form of assurance of court…
Los Angeles Judge Ignoring California Bail Law, Loyola Law Prof Charges in Complaint
By The Vanguard Staff LOS ANGELES, CA – The Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior…
Guest Commentary: The Deadly and Tragic Costs of Pretrial Detention
By Andrea Woods and Benjamin Lynde LaShawn Thompson died late last year while being detained pretrial in…
Guest Commentary: The Pretrial Pressure Cooker
By DC Content note: Names have been changed to protect the identities of people whose experiences are…
Policy Paper Suggests Bail Reform Has Only ‘Minimal’ Effect on Public Safety
By Leslie Acevedo and Perla Brito NEW YORK, NY – Bail reform is controversial, with some cities,…
Guest Commentary: SF Public Defender Opposes New Bail Policies Set Forth by DA
By Mano Raju Even before District Attorney Jenkins issued this policy, we’ve seen her office expand the…
Testimony by Victim Helps Convince Court Domestic Violence Accused Should Be Released to Treatment Program
By Stewart Lucas SAN FRANCISCO, CA – After testimony by the victim in a domestic violence case…