In Historic Election, California Rejects Risk Assessments; Retains Cash Bail System
On November 3, 2020, the voters of California were asked to replace the private bail industry with a state program that utilized a risk assessment tool system that has come under question over the last two years as more research has concluded that risk assessments should not be a part of any criminal justice reform. California voters stuck with the state's traditional cash bail system in this year's balloting, rejecting the law adopted by the state legislature that would have replaced the private industry with a state-wide pretrial release system that at its heart utilized a risk assessment tool. Voters in California overturned a 2018 law that never went into effect because of a ballot initiative that placed the matter before the voters. With more than 11 million votes counted, the measure failed Wednesday with 55% opposing and 45% favoring an end to the current bail system. Therefore, the law will not go into effect. Various groups opposed the law including: Human Rights