PROP
25

REFERENDUM ON LAW THAT REPLACED MONEY BAIL WITH SYSTEM BASED ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND FLIGHT RISK.

 

OFFICIAL TITLE AND SUMMARY

PREPARED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

A “Yes” vote approves, and a “No” vote rejects, a 2018 law that:

  • Replaced the money bail system (for obtaining release from jail before trial) with a system based on a determination of public safety and flight risk.
  • Limits detention of a person in jail before trial for most misdemeanors.

SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S ESTIMATE OF NET STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FISCAL IMPACT:

  • Increased state and local costs possibly in the mid hundreds of millions of dollars annually for a new process for releasing people from jail prior to trial. Unclear whether some of the increased state costs would be offset by local funds currently spent on this type of workload.
  • Decreased county jail costs possibly in the high tens of millions of dollars annually.
  • Unknown net impact on state and local tax revenues generally related to people spending money on goods rather than paying for release from jail prior to trial.