Utah Bail Survey | January 16, 2018

Conducted between December 22, 2017 and January 3, 2018, a poll of more than 600 Utah voters found that the vast majority of Utahns — 71% overall — considered themselves unfamiliar with the state’s bail system. Of the just 14% of Utahns with experience posting bail, nearly half had posted bail for an immediate family member. When asked about specific parts of the pretrial process an overwhelming majority of those surveyed expressed support for the use of risk assessment in pre-trial decision making — 92% overall, including 76% who strongly supported the use of risk assessment. Additionally, 97% of respondents said that risk to public safety should be the most important factor in the decision to detain or release someone prior to trial.

Read the full poll memo here.