Feb. 16, 2023 An expanded case study by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office found that those released on zero bail reoffended at a 70% higher rate and were rearrested for two or more new crimes 148% more often.
By Robyn Dobson Source The Daily Democrat, Woodland, Calif. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The expanded case study on the Zero Bail Policy conducted by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office found that the policy resulted in 163% more total crime and 200% more violent crime.
The district attorney’s office previously released an analysis in August 2022 on the criminal reoffense rates of individuals released from jail on zero bail as a result of court mandates during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 595 individuals released on zero bail in Yolo County, 420 or 70.6% were rearrested and 123 or 20% were arrested on a violent crime which includes murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking and domestic violence, according to a press release from the district attorney’s office.
The previously published study can be found at: https://yoloda.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Emergency-Bail-Analysis.pdf.
The expanded study was completed in February and examined a random sample of 100 arrested individuals who were released from jail on bail in 2018 or 2019 and compared them to a sample of 100 individuals released on zero bail between April 19, 2020 and May 31, 2021.
“Offender demographics and original offenses were similar for the comparison groups,” the press release explained. “Recidivism was counted if the individual was arrested anywhere within 18 months, for at least one new crime, after being previously released.”
Data showed that those released on zero bail reoffended at a 70% higher rate, committed new felonies 90% more often, misdemeanors 123% more often and were rearrested for two or more new crimes 148% more often. The study also found the average recidivism rate over the 18 months was 70% for those released on zero bail compared to 46% for those who posted bail.
“The results of this recent study on the actual impacts of zero bail policies clearly demonstrate that victimization dramatically increases, and public safety is significantly compromised, when bail is eliminated as a tool for use by the courts,” District Attorney Jeff Reisig said. “A 163% increase in total crime and a 200% increase in violent crime by arrestees released on zero bail, when compared to those released by the courts on traditional bail, is the type of compelling data that should drive future discussion on any contemplated bail reform.”
The full report can be viewed at: https://yoloda.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Zero-Bail-vs-Posted-Bail-Study-February-6-2023.pdf.