Criminal Justice Archives - Page 7 of 8

After arrest, low-income defendants may spend weeks or months in jail before they can request a lower bond

In many courts, defendants don’t have access to public defenders during first appearances, pushing back when they can ask for reduced bail or release from jail

By Mollie Bryant April 28, 2022

Five ways communities can use jails less

Local jails are crowded in the United States. Here’s what communities and states can do to jail people less

By Mollie Bryant April 11, 2022

Criminal court backlogs delay trials while defendants spend longer in jail

For decades, courts have struggled to resolve criminal cases in recommended timeframes. In the pandemic, it’s even harder.

By Mollie Bryant February 16, 2022

As jails suspend in-person visitation, expensive video and phone calls fill the void

Without face-to-face visitation, speaking with attorneys is less private in some jails

By Mollie Bryant January 6, 2022

A $50,000 bond for a 43-cent theft: How the cash bail system favors the wealthy

Many bonds are set without considering if defendants can afford them, letting the wealthy walk while the poor stay in jail

By Mollie Bryant September 24, 2021