On April 3, 2020 a special meeting was held by the California Judicial Council, the policymaking body that oversees California’s vast state court system. The council agreed to use its emergency powers to help fight the spread of COVID-19 by temporarily eliminating bail for people arrested and charged with a felony or misdemeanor offense with certain exceptions for serious or violent felonies and specific other crimes*. By setting bail at $0 dollars, these emergency measures should bring relief to the judicial and county jail system by slowing the arrival of inmates into the county jails and courts where there are already many reports of COVID-19 infections.
The rules will go into effect on April 13, 2020 and will last for 90 days after the end of California’s state of emergency is announced or until amended by the Judicial Council. Once these new rules go into effect masses of individuals who are arrested for new crimes or waiting in county jail during pretrial will be released unless the presiding Judge on their case orders bail to ensure public safety.
If you or a loved one would like more information on these rule changes or need a free case evaluation call Kareem Law APC at 888-671-5933. As always, be safe and stay healthy.
*serious felony, as defined in Penal Code section 1192.7(c), or a violent 31 felony, as defined in Penal Code section 667.5(c); 32 33 (2) A felony violation of Penal Code section 69; 34 35 (3) A violation of Penal Code section 166(c)(1); 36 37 (4) A violation of Penal Code section 136.1 when punishment is imposed under 38 section 136.1(c); 39 40 (5) A violation of Penal Code section 262; 41 42 (6) A violation of Penal Code sections 243(e)(1) or 273.5; A violation of Penal Code section 273.6 if the detained person made threats 2 to kill or harm, has engaged in violence against, or has gone to the residence 3 or workplace of, the protected party; 4 5 (8) A violation of Penal Code section 422 where the offense is punished as a 6 felony; 7 8 (9) A violation of Penal Code section 646.9; 9 10 (10) A violation of an offense listed in Penal Code section 290(c); 11 12 (11) A violation of Vehicle Code sections 23152 or 23153; 13 14 (12) A felony violation of Penal Code section 463; and 15 16 (13) A violation of Penal Code section 29800.
