Doug Sovern is off today. When the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic hit California back in March of 2020, it had a seismic effect across all aspects of the state's systems, including the judicial system. The Judicial Council of California responded by issuing an emergency bail order to reduce viral transmission in courts and jails and the policy had far-reaching effects on the number of people who were immediately released after being arrested.

For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Dr. Deepak Premkumar, research fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California.