Sandy James introduced our speaker this week, Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara County DA. Jeff is always one of our favorite speakers and he spoke on the history and current status of Bail in our county. Check out the full presentation by clicking here.
Some of Jeff’s key points were:
- Reducing the number of people in jail has become a bi-partisan support (for different reasons.
- It is important that they bail system maintain the “presumption of innocence”
- Having access to resources (wealth) should not bias the system, those with less should have the same treatment.
- Holding the accused in jail should be a result of determining their danger to society, not their financial capability.
- The County has a tool to help judges with this process
- The long-term goal is to eliminate bail: release if no threat, hold in detention until trial if a threat to society.
