Assembly Bill 42, authored by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, would have made sweeping changes to California’s immoral bail system, changing a status quo that treats the wealthy like equals, and the rest of us like cattle. Yet every Republican and 14 Democrats voted to continue a system that is unfair, expensive and hurts poor communities.
The foundation of our justice system is that we are all “innocent until proven guilty.” Yet our bail system allows the state to detain people who have not seen a day in court, who demonstrate good behavior, and whom a judge has deemed a low risk for flight or criminal behavior.