RT Article
T1 From Bright Plots to Blind Spots: Mapping Departures in Case Review Post-Bail Reform in Two New Jersey Courts
JF Criminal justice and behavior
VO 48
IS 1
SP 96
OP 115
A1 Rengifo, Andres F.
A2 Jackson, Ashley N.
A2 Flores, Sofía G.
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1770814744
AB This study documents the extent to which prosecutors and judges in New Jersey deviate from new case review protocols post-bail reform. We draw on a random sample of hearings observed in two courts (N = 372) to (a) map prosecutorial requests to depart from risk-based recommendations for pretrial monitoring and (b) explore patterns in judicial review signaling more limited case processing. Findings show that in 16% of cases, prosecutors deviated from guidelines and most of these motions were adopted by judges to increase supervision. Deviations from process by judges were more frequent, with 39% of cases observed linked to one or more markers of reduced review. Multivariate results suggest that case-level factors influenced the patterning of these departures in different ways, with older defendants and most Latinx defendants receiving a more limited assessment of their cases. We discuss findings in connection to literature on corrections reform and smart decarceration initiatives.
K1 CRIMINAL justice system
K1 Decision-making
K1 Implementation
K1 Law
K1 Punishment
DO 10.1177/0093854820960504