SJC Exchange Library

In many parts of the United States people charged with a crime yet who are presumed innocent are incarcerated when a court sets Cash Bail at an amount that a defendant cannot afford. In some jurisdictionsCash Bail is often required even on nonviolent misdemeanor or criminal traffic charges. But when a Signature Bond is ordered, a defendant may be released from custody without posting cash. A review of all criminal cases filed in Dane County over the past five years, nearly 33,000 cases in total, shows that a Signature Bond was ordered in 81% of the cases, and Cash Bail ordered in 19% of the cases. Dane County defendants charged in lower level cases are released on Signature Bonds at an even higher rate: for misdemeanor cases Signature Bonds were given in 86% of the cases (Table 3); for criminal traffic cases 97% were given Signature Bonds.
 
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