An Analysis of Bail Setting and Jail Capacity

Author

Barbara J. Illsley, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Date of Award

4-1-1977

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Criminology and Criminal Justice

First Advisor

Dr. Samuel Walker

Abstract

According to the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, more than one-half of the defendants brought into a magistrate's court are released or convicted and sentenced within twenty-four hours of their arrest. The rest await final disposition for days, weeks, sometimes months. Bail is recognized by law for the sole purpose of assuring the defendant's appearance at trial, yet it is commonly used as a means of keeping what the judge determines as potentially dangerous defendants in jail. In a great number of cases this procedure is ineffective. Professional criminals, criminals connected with organized crime generally have little trouble posting bail although they are clearly dangerous.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Criminal Justice and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha. Copyright Barbara J. Illsley April, 1977

Recommended Citation

Illsley, Barbara J., "An Analysis of Bail Setting and Jail Capacity" (1977). Student Work. 2271.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/2271