HB 922

Abstract

Bail; data collection and reporting standards;report. Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Servicesto (i) collect data relating to bail determinations for any personwho is held in custody pending trial or hearing for an offense, civilor criminal contempt or otherwise, in every locality; (ii) createa uniform reporting mechanism for criminal justice agencies to submitsuch data; and (iii) submit an annual report on the data collectedto the Governor and the General Assembly, as well as publish the annual report on the Department's website. The bill also providesthat the law addressing bail is to be construed so as to give effectto a general presumption in favor of pretrial release. The bill alsorequires the Department to report to the House Committee for Courtsof Justice by January 1, 2021, on the development and applicationof the uniform reporting mechanisms. The bill has a delayed effectivedate of July 1, 2021, for provisions related to the creation of uniform reporting mechanisms and data collection by the Department.