NCJ Number
84483
Date Published
1981
Length
120 pages
Annotation
Congressmen, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials, magistrates, and attorneys testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control on the issue of bail reform as it relates to narcotics traffickers.
Abstract
The chairman's opening statement commented on the need for revisions in Federal bail laws, noting that in the last 5 years, 53 percent of bail violators still at large were originally charged with narcotics violations. Members of the House Judiciary Committee summarized its efforts to draft legislation on pretrial detention for defendants who present a danger to the community or are likely to jump bail. The DEA spokesman detailed weaknesses in the 1966 Bail Reform Act, suggesting that the discretion to determine and fix the amount and conditions of bail be restored to judicial officers. He also discussed statistics on narcotics offenders who jump bail, the DEA's actions to apprehend these persons, and its relations with the FBI. Magistrates from district courts in Florida and Maryland gave their opinions on bail reform and related the practical problems they encounter in setting bail, particularly for drug traffickers who can raise large amounts of money. A representative from the American Bar Association explained its standards regarding pretrial release. The District of Columbia's pretrial services program was described by its director who also commented on Federal bail reform proposals. Attorneys from Miami, Fla. and Washington, D.C. representing the defense lawyer's viewpoint were generally satisfied with existing bail laws.