June 30, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Board of Supervisors Vote To Rethink Los Angeles County’s Policy’s on Bail

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to rethink the county’s policies on bail and pretrial release to create a fairer system for defendants both rich and poor.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl recommended the review, saying the requirement to post money bail contributes to overcrowding, hasn’t been shown to reduce crime and disproportionately hurts low-income communities.

“Imagine waiting in jail month after month for your trial even if a judge has determined that you pose minimal threat to public safety,” Kuehl said. “In the process, you may lose your job, your home, even your family, all because you didn’t have the money to post bail.”

Nearly half of inmates in Los Angeles County jails are awaiting trial, according to sheriff’s department statistics.

Peter Eliasberg of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California said the system is inherently unfair.

“What is the justification for a system whereby (record producer) Phil Spector can put a million dollars down to buy his way to pretrial freedom when he’s charged with murder when thousands of people languish in the county jails charged with low-level offenses with no history of ever committing a violent crime?” Eliasberg asked. “Reform is long overdue.”

Sheriff Jim McDonnell joined civil rights advocates in supporting the analysis and said he’d like to see better risk-assessment tools for deciding who stays in custody and who can safely be released.

Kuehl’s motion, co-authored by Supervisor Hilda Solis, directs county lawyers to hire a consultant to find the best tools to make that assessment.

Most Los Angeles County judges tend to default to a bail schedule instead of releasing defendants on their own recognizance because they don’t have enough facts about a defendant to make an informed decision, according to a 2011 study by the Vera Institute of Justice.

A county task force will consider whether the county can move toward an approach in which judges start with a presumption that defendants should be released without bail, unless there is evidence of aggravating circumstances that would “endanger the safety of any other person or the community.”

That prompted objections from bail bondsmen.

Bail agent Anthony Adornetta told the board he agreed the system needs review, but accused the board of reaching conclusions before the evaluation even began.

“You’ve already decided what you want out of this,” Adornetta said, adding that if the county eliminated money bail, it would shift many bail-agent jobs from the private to the public sector. “You’re going to need a task force to get defendants to come to court. It’s a big job that bail agents do.”

Others argued that change is critical.

“Our system is, in effect, a debtor’s prison,” said Brian Williams, executive director of the county’s Civilian Oversight Commission that oversees the sheriff’s department.

A report is expected back in 120 days.

3D_Judges_Gavel

Related Posts

California Judge Rules FAIR Plan’s Smoke Damage Policy Unlawful

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Court Says Wildfire Insurance Program Illegally Denied Claims Legal protections for California homeowners took a step forward this week after...

(Video) Culver City Residents and City and County Leaders Rally for Disappeared Ice Cream Man Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

US Representative for California’s 37th Congressional District, Sydney Kamlager-Dove Speaks About What is happening to the disappeared.

Historic Sawtelle Nursery Site Could Become 40-Unit Townhome Complex

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Sawtelle Continues to Change as Nursery Site Faces Redevelopment Plans have been submitted to redevelop a nursery site, F.K. Nursery,...

Drake Slashes Price on Beverly Hills Estate to $79 Million Amid Market Slowdown

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Price Cut Adds to a Broader Retreat From His Los Angeles Real Estate Holdings. Musician Drake has reduced the price...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

Overdose Deaths Drop 22% in Los Angeles County, Marking Largest Decline on Record

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Fentanyl Fatalities Fell 37% as County Ramps up Funding for Prevention, Treatment Drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County declined...

Cinespia Brings Fireworks and Fan Favorites to Hollywood Forever This July

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Watch Top Gun, La La Land, and More Under the Stars at Hollywood Forever Cinespia, Los Angeles’ iconic outdoor movie...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Pedestrian Killed on 405 Freeway to State Route 90 Connector in Culver City 

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Fatal Crash on Culver City Adds to Growing Safety Concerns Early Friday, a pedestrian died after being struck by a...

EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles Returns with Star Chefs, Firefighter Tribute, and Wildfire Relief Efforts

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Culinary Festival Features Exclusive Restaurant Collabs, Support for Small Businesses  EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles, the celebrated food festival curated by The...

Supporters to Gather This Weekend for Longtime Culver City Paleta Seller Held in Detention

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Family and Neighbors Will Gather Sunday to Sell Paletas and Raise Funds Supporters will gather this Sunday at Veterans Park...

Suspect Charged by Los Angeles DA with Shooting of Santa Monica Cop and Teens

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Faces Attempted Murder Charges and Over 100 Years to Life in Prison if Convicted. Criminal charges have been filed against...

Captain America Hits the Skirball Big Screen for Heroic Outdoor Movie Night

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Museum-Goers Can Also Catch a Superhero-Themed Drawing Session The Skirball Cultural Center will host an outdoor screening of Captain America:...

Demolition Underway at Beverly Grove Squatter Site After Mystery Fire Renews Safety Fears

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Crews Begin Tearing Down Long-Vacant Apartments on First and Flores  Demolition has begun at a group of long-abandoned apartment buildings...

(Video) Welcome to the Urban Jungle — where nature meets the city and style meets soul

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Whether you’re chasing that gritty city energy or carving out a green oasis in your space, we’re here to help...