California Superior Court Judge Lawrence P. Riff declared on May 16 that enforcing monetary bail violates the due process clause of the U.S. and California constitutions.

Riff issued a preliminary injunction that prohibits the application or enforcement of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s 2022 Felony Bail Schedule and 2022 Bail Schedule for Infractions and Misdemeanors by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department before arraignment.

The ruling will impact only pre-arraigned arrestees and applies solely to the Los LAPD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. As part of the court’s directive, the sheriff’s department will adhere a no-bail schedule for some misdemeanor offenses.

The modification eliminates the requirement of posting cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony offenses. Instead, individuals charged with those offenses would be released on their own recognizance.

The ruling does not apply to serious or violent offenses, including assaults, sexual offenses, domestic violence and offenses involving weapons. Anyone released and rearrested for the same offense will be held until bail is posted.  The ruling will also not affect people arrested for parole and probation revocations.