David Ball spoke with KTVU news, the Mercury News, and Business Insider about a California Supreme Court ruling to shrink the role of cash bail in jailings. The ruling directs judges to expand use of non-jail alternatives and affordable bail, and increases burden to justify public-safety detainments.
David Ball, a Santa Clara University law professor who specializes in criminal procedure, called the ruling “a gigantic momentous decision.” Ball said he anticipates that arguments over pre-trial release in California courtrooms, which previously focused on what bail amount was appropriate for each defendant, will instead shift toward a focus on public safety.
“You can no longer get around the decision about detaining someone on the basis of public safety by setting an unaffordable bail,” Ball said.
