Criminal Justice: Impact of Bail Reform in Selected District Courts

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the impact of the Bail Reform Act of 1984, focusing on: (1) any changes in the number of persons held in pretrial custody under the old and new laws; (2) whether the courts held convicted offenders in custody while awaiting sentencing or pending appeal resolution; (3) the length of time the courts held defendants in custody; (4) a comparison of sentencing outcomes for offenders held in pretrial custody with those released before their trials; and (5) if judicial officers received timely information to assist them in setting bail.