That evaluation is expected to take place within about 12 hours of a person’s arrest, or sooner when possible, DeMeo said. Together with a new team of probation officers, the commissioners will oversee a system for evaluating whether a recent arrestee should remain incarcerated for public safety purposes or if that individual likely will successfully follow court orders while free. The new program is paid for with a $5.76 million grant from the Judicial Council of California. It really equalizes that option and opportunity.” “It’s now giving indigent defendants the opportunity to be released within the same time frame that someone with means can post bail and be released. “It’s a fundamental change in how people are considered for release from custody,” DeMeo said. The pretrial release program creates a faster alternative to the cash bail system that is increasingly viewed as unfairly punishing the poor while allowing potentially dangerous people with means to get out of jail. Presiding Judge Bradford DeMeo tapped defense attorney and former Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputy Paul Lozada and research attorney Kenneth English, who has been among those helping shepherd the program from its inception.
Sonoma County Superior Court’s presiding judge has appointed two commissioners to oversee a new program to help some people get out of jail sooner without having to put up cash or property as bail.
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