Bail Reform Act of 1984

The Bail Reform Act of 1984 is a U.S. law that governs how bail is set for defendants awaiting trial. It allows judges to consider a defendant's risk of fleeing or posing a danger to the community when deciding bail conditions. While previously, bail decisions often focused on the ability to pay, this act emphasizes public safety and flight risk. It also introduced "preventive detention," allowing judges to keep high-risk defendants in custody before trial. The law aimed to balance the rights of the accused with the safety of society.