The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of pretrial release (defined as release on recognizance and bail), custodial status and failure to appear among felony and misdemeanor defendants within a California Superior Court. Analyses were derived from a sample of defendants (N=1076) who were considered for release through the Court's pretrial service agency. The findings supported the earlier literature in that defendants who had a failure to appear history, probation history (felony court only) or were charged with a current violent crime were significantly less likely to be released on recognizance. Female defendants were more likely to be granted recognizance release in the felony and misdemeanor courts than male defendants. The study also found that race was a significant indicator of pretrial release status. Hispanic defendants were significantly more likely to be released on own recognizance than other defendants in the misdemeanor court, whereas Black defendants were more likely to return for court appearances after they were released.;Findings of the present study contributed to the literature in two important ways. First, the study set forth to describe the similarities and differences in pretrial court processing among misdemeanor and felony courts. Secondly, the study demonstrated that misdemeanor courts adhere to state bail guidelines by restricting lenient release conditions when misdemeanants are charged with violent crimes.;Future studies that include new methods of analysis (such as path analysis), the inclusion of extensive court and defendant variables and ongoing and longitudinal assessments of pretrial service agencies are suggested.
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