WOODLAND, CA (MPG) – As a result of Yolo County Superior Court’s continued use of $0 bail, over 526 new crimes have been committed. In April, the California Judicial Council imposed the “$0” Emergency Bail Schedule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although rescinded in June, the Yolo County Superior Court continues to use the Emergency Bail Schedule.  Court officials indicated the Emergency Bail Schedule will remain in effect until the pandemic ends.

Since April 13, 2020, 427 individuals have been arrested and released on $0 bail a total of 524 times, with some benefitting on multiple occasions. The individuals who have reoffended since their release on $0 bail in Yolo County have committed over 526 new crimes in Yolo County alone. Those new crimes include 217 felonies and 309 misdemeanors, including crimes such as Attempted Murder, Assault with a Deadly Weapon or Assault by Means of Force Likely to Product Great Bodily Injury (16 new victims), Robbery (8 new victims), Burglary (32 new victims), felony domestic violence (7 new victims), possession of an assault weapon, gang crimes, and dozens of other new felony and misdemeanor crimes. Nearly 40 percent of those released on $0 have reoffended at least one time.  

The Emergency Bail Schedule simply looks at the arresting offense and releases individuals on $0 bail, even those on probation or parole, without conducting a risk assessment for dangerousness. Additionally, upon release on $0 bail, offenders are given a court date 4-5 months in the future. This makes it nearly impossible to assess those individuals who are homeless, suffer from a substance use disorder, or from a serious mental illness in order to enroll them into one of the county’s diversion programs such as mental health court or addiction intervention court.