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69 Emory L.J. 1205 (2019-2020)
Death of a Bail Bondsman: The Implementation and Successes of Nonmonetary, Risk-Based Bail Systems

handle is hein.journals/emlj69 and id is 1245 raw text is: 








  DEATH OF A BAIL BONDSMAN: THE IMPLEMENTATION
     AND SUCCESSES OF NONMONETARY, RISK-BASED
                           BAIL SYSTEMS

                               ABSTRACT

    The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that bail,
when afforded to a criminal defendant, not be excessive. However, there is no
provision as to what form bail must take or how it is to be determined. Starting
in the twilight of the nineteenth century, monetary conditions of bail became
increasingly prevalent throughout the United States. Yet, in recent years, there
has been a movement to eliminate the requirement that defendants pay their way
to pretrial freedom. States have taken measures to move away from cash bail,
ranging from significantly limiting its use to outright prohibitions against
monetary conditions on bail. The impetus behind such reform measures is that
monetary conditions on bail discriminate against lower income defendants by
disparately leading to pretrial detention of individuals who cannot afford to pay
the required sum.

    This Comment analyzes the relative success of the risk-based, nonmonetary
bail systems that several states have implemented. This Comment begins by
analyzing the history of the right to bail in the United States, starting with how
such a right was understood at the time of the founding. Next, the evolution of
the application of bail and the considerations behind pretrial release or
detention determinations, are discussed. This Comment then proceeds to analyze
how risk-based, nonmonetary bail systems have been codified and applied. Last,
this Comment evaluates the impact that these schemes have had on the states of
implementation and potential alterations that would allow for better
administration of such legislation.

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