California SB 1180 Costs California More Money

The California State Senate is currently considering SB 1180, a bill which increases the use of own recognizance for release of defendants from jail before their trials. Own recognizance (OR) releases require staff to monitor and track the defendants. Additionally, expensive investigations will be incurred when defendants fail to appear. These costs will be incurred by local and county governements. At a time when they are already financially strapped, why would the senate want to increase the financial burden on them?

The current bail bond system is the most effective and efficient form of release for defendants awaiting trial. There is no financial burden placed on the government; bail bond agency owners take the burden. When a defendant fails to appear at a court date, it is the bail bond agent, not the government, who carries the cost of finding the defendant and returning them to the system.

California government is in debt enough. We shouldn’t be extending OR and spending money unnecessarily. Please send a letter to your local state senator and let them know you are against the increased expenditures required by SB 1180.