By Summer LinLos Angeles TimesLOS ANGELES — Twelve Los Angeles County cities filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to postpone the controversial new zero-bail policy that allows some nonviolent defendants charged with felonies or misdemeanors to be cited and released after being arrested. A new pretrial protocol will eliminate money bail for most people in Los Angeles County between their arrest and their arraignment, beginning Oct. 1. The cities seeking the injunction claim that the bail schedule will result in a "significant increase in criminals released back into the community" after their arrest. "The zero-bail schedule fails to support local leaders in their pledge to protect their residents, and that is unacceptable." After L.A. County implemented a zero-bail policy for many offenses to ease jail crowding during the pandemic, some police officials said it resulted in an increase in crime and recidivism.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 03, 2023 18:22 UTC