In 2019, the Utah Legislature limited judicial discretion in bail decisions — which determine whether a presumably innocent person is released pending trial. Passed with claims of preventing high, cash-only bail — thus making it difficult for people to be released — this bill flew through the Utah Legislature with minimal opposition.
But the bill could result in more low-income people staying in jail when accused of crimes. Legislators should rethink bail as a whole to stop this potential harm and help ensure our courts are not jailing innocent people unnecessarily due to overly restrictive bail conditions.