REAL TALK

NEWS POLITICS

Los Angeles Implements ‘Zero Bail’ System Sparking Concerns Among Residents and Law Enforcement

ByAlki David

Oct 3, 2023

In a significant move this week, Los Angeles County has embraced a controversial “zero bail” system, allowing non-violent offenders to be released without bail immediately after arrest. This policy shift marks a departure from the county’s previous approach, which required defendants to post bail corresponding to the severity of their alleged crimes.

Progressives championed this change, contending that the previous system disproportionately affected economically disadvantaged individuals who couldn’t afford bail, leading to extended periods of incarceration before trial. However, the implementation of the zero-bail system has ignited a wave of concern among both residents and law enforcement officials.

Sheriff Robert Luna, addressing the Board of Supervisors last week, expressed the unease permeating communities: “Our communities have not been shy about telling us how nervous they are about this change.” Luna acknowledged the importance of respecting the constitutional rights of arrestees but voiced the sentiment that immediate release without bail could undermine the confidence of crime victims in the criminal justice system.

He highlighted a poignant concern: law enforcement officers witnessing offenders walk away with just a citation, leaving victims disheartened. Luna emphasized the demoralizing impact on deputies and police officers who invest significant effort in apprehending individuals, only to see them swiftly released back into the community.

Notably, rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has been an outspoken critic of the zero-bail policy. Earlier this year, he declared that the city is “finished” with this approach, reflecting the apprehensions shared by many.

The debate surrounding the zero-bail system raises critical questions about balancing individual rights and community safety. As Los Angeles County navigates this uncharted territory, concerns persist about the potential consequences on law enforcement morale and public trust in the justice system.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.