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Fixing bail, fines, and fees in the criminal justice system

A Cook County Sheriff's police car patrols the exterior of the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois, January 12, 2016. The Cook County Jail in Chicago -- the biggest single-site jail in the United States -- was placed on lockdown on Tuesday after staffing dropped below normal levels, said Cook County Sheriff's spokesman Ben Breit. REUTERS/Jim Young - GF20000092626

The share of felony defendants in the criminal justice system who are required to post bail to avoid pre-trail detention is increasing, while the share released without bail is dropping. Simultaneously the amount of time from arrest to adjudication has increased in recent years. These and related factors have significant negative economic impacts on the individuals involved, and are linked to increased recidivism. In this episode, Jay Shambaugh, the director of the Hamilton Project at Brookings and a senior fellow in Economic Studies, talks about new research on monetary sanctions in the criminal justice system. Also, John Ratliff, in a new Metro Lens, talks about how America’s governors are pursuing digital innovation policies.

Related Content:

Nine Facts about Monetary Sanctions in the Criminal Justice System

Proposals for Improving the U.S. Pretrial System

Addressing Modern Debtors’ Prisons with Graduated Economic Sanctions that Depend on Ability to Pay

A Proposal to End Regressive Taxation through Law Enforcement

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