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Broad Drop in State Unemployment

Unemployment declined in April in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates rose in three states and remained steady in the remaining seven states. States with the highest job growth were Texas, New York and Florida. More

State Budget Update: Spring 2013

States continue to move along a familiar path of slow and steady growth as the four-year anniversary of the official end of the Great Recession approaches, according to NCSL's newly released report, “State Budget Update: Spring 2013.” More

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Civil & Criminal Justice
 
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NCSL Civil and Criminal Justice Program

Contact

  • NCSL Criminal Justice Program in Denver, Colorado, (303) 364-7700 or cj-info@ncsl.org.

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NCSL Partners

Pretrial Release

View all documents related to this topic by clicking on the document library tab at the top of this page.

State legislatures consider and enact laws that address all aspects of pretrial release, including release eligibility, conditions of release, bail, commercial bail bonding, and pretrial diversion. These legislative policies have an important role in providing for fair, efficient and safe pretrial practices carried out by law enforcement and the courts.  There were nearly three-quarters of a million individuals in jail at midyear 2011, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and 61 percent of those were pretrial, that is awaiting court action on a current charge.  Many people who have been arrested and charged with a crime are eligible for release prior to trial, often with conditions set to ensure their return for court appearance.

State interest is growing in how to make pretrial release more safe, effective and cost effective.  In 2012, 40 states considered 395 bills or resolutions related to pretrial release, and of those there were 114 enactments in 33 states.
 



New Resources

NCSL’s 2013 pretrial legislation update, March 2013.  

NCSL’s 2013 collection of pretrial release laws contains summaries and charted information on various pretrial policies.

NCSL's 2012 Pretrial Release Legislation Overview highlights legislative interests and actions, including eligibility for release, release options and commercial bail.
 

 

 

NCSL's 2013 Legislative Summit

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