Abstract

Unlike the cash-bail regimes that are prevalent in state courts, federal courts rarely use money bail as a condition of pretrial release. Nonetheless, this article presents evidence that pretrial release influences case outcomes for federal defendants. Using case data spanning 71 federal district courts, the article suggests that pretrial release reduces a defendant’s sentence and increases the probability that they will receive a sentence below the recommended sentencing range. Pretrial release also appears to lessen the probability that a defendant will receive a mandatory minimum sentence when one is charged. The analysis exploits variation in magistrate judges’ propensities to release defendants pending trial, which allows magistrate judge leniency to serve as an instrumental variable for pretrial release. The article also provides suggestive evidence that pretrial release affects case outcomes through two channels: first, by giving defendants the opportunity to present mitigating evidence at sentencing and second, by making it easier for defendants to earn a sentencing reduction by providing assistance to the government.

中文翻译：

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联邦审前拘留的直接后果

摘要

与州法院普遍采用的现金保释制度不同，联邦法院很少使用现金保释作为审前释放的条件。尽管如此，本文还是提供了证据表明，审前释放会影响联邦被告的案件结果。该文章使用涉及71个联邦地方法院的案件数据，表明审前释放减少了被告的刑期，并提高了他们将接受低于建议量刑范围的判决的可能性。审前释放似乎也减少了被告人被指控时将获得强制性最低刑期的可能性。该分析利用了地方法官释放待审案件中被告的倾向的变化，这使得地方法官的宽大处理可以作为审前释放的工具变量。