SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP/KMJ) – The California Assembly has narrowly passed a bill to make California the first state to completely eliminate bail for suspects awaiting trial and replace it with a risk-assessment system.
The bill, SB 10 authored by state Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), passed Monday with no votes to spare and over concerns from groups on both sides of the political aisle. It now moves to the state Senate which has two weeks to decide whether to send it to Gov. Brown. Supporters of the bill argue the current system discriminates against low-income people. They say the bill will result in fewer people languishing in jail before trial. Opponents argue it will do the opposite. The proposal would give courts wide latitude to decide whether to release many suspects before trial based on their likeliness to return to court and the danger they pose to public safety. The American Civil Liberties Union of California and other groups that were supporters of the bill changed positions on Monday, saying amendments last week give courts too much power in deciding who should be released and will further exacerbate “racial biases and disparities that permeate our justice system.” Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) voted against the controversial measure while Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) did not cast a vote. Arambula wasn’t the only democrat skipping this vote. 10 democrats did not vote while 4 others joined republicans in voting against SB10.
