Landmark decision changes bail system in MD

A landmark decision from Maryland's highest court means a change for the way the bail system is handled. The Maryland Court of Appeals unanimously decided Tuesday to reach a compromise on bail reform and keep cash bail as a last resort.

The seven judge panel said starting July 1, 2017 judges will be instructed to seek alternative methods for ensuring a defendant shows up in court before ordering cash bail be paid. 

Alternative methods could include things like weekly check-ins with probation officers, weekly drug tests or house arrest.

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said the current cash bail system causes people to be held in jail simply because they're poor and that it needed reform. 

Frosh said yearly there are thousands of cases in Maryland where folks can't scrape together the hundreds of dollars that may be required for their release.

"Consequently they remain in jail for days or weeks or months before their trial date and of course it's ruinous. They lose their jobs, lose their housing, lose their families," Frosh said.

Frosh said for cases where the defendant can afford to pay bail, cash bail would be used.