Welchen v. Cnty. of Sacramento

343 F. Supp. 3d 924
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedOctober 24, 2018
DocketNo. 2:16-cv-00185-TLN-DB
StatusPublished

This text of 343 F. Supp. 3d 924 (Welchen v. Cnty. of Sacramento) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Welchen v. Cnty. of Sacramento, 343 F. Supp. 3d 924 (E.D. Cal. 2018).

Opinion

Troy L. Nunley, United States District Judge

This matter is before the Court pursuant to Defendant County of Sacramento, ("County") Defendant Scott Jones, in his official capacity as Sacramento County Sheriff, ("Sheriff") and Defendant Kamala Harris's, in her official capacity as the California Attorney General, ("AG") (collectively "Defendants") Motions to Dismiss. (ECF No. 35; ECF No. 36.) Plaintiff Gary Wayne Welchen, et al. ("Plaintiff") filed oppositions to Defendants' motions. (ECF No. 37; ECF No. 38.) Defendants filed replies. (ECF No. 39; ECF No. 40.) The Court has carefully considered the parties' arguments. For the reasons set forth below, Defendants' Motions to Dismiss are GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.

I. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

Plaintiff, a 50-year-old indigent and homeless resident of Sacramento, was arrested by Sacramento police on January *92829, 2016, for suspicion of second-degree burglary of an uninhabited dwelling. (Pl.'s First Am. Compl. ("FAC"), ECF No. 31, ¶¶ 27-28, 30.) Plaintiff alleges that after he was taken to jail, he was informed he would be kept in jail unless he paid $10,000 for bail. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 29.) Plaintiff alleges that because he could not afford to pay $10,000, he was detained for six days before he was released by the Sheriff's Department. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 33.) That same day, Plaintiff filed this class action against the County and AG alleging that enforcement of California Penal Code section 1269b ("Bail Law") and the County's bail schedule adopted pursuant to that law ("Bail Schedule") violate his Constitutional rights under the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. (Compl., ECF No. 1, ¶¶ 13, 65-68.) Plaintiff later named the Sheriff as an additional defendant in the FAC for the same claims. (ECF No. 31.)

Plaintiff alleges the County and Sheriff's "policy of implementing the money bail system [pursuant to Cal. Pen. Code § 1269(b) ] ... amounts to unconstitutional wealth-based detention." (ECF No. 31, ¶ 16.) Plaintiff alleges that at the end of the booking process, arrestees are given a booking sheet, which includes their booking charge and their bail amount. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 37.) Plaintiff further alleges bail is determined by referring to the Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Schedule as established by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 37.) Plaintiff states deputy sheriffs use this bail schedule, referring to an arrestee's booking charge(s), when determining an arrestee's bail amount. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 37.) Plaintiff alleges arrestees are told that if they pay their bail amount, they will be released immediately. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 38.) Plaintiff alleges arrestees are then told that if they cannot pay bail, they will remain in jail until arraignment or discharge. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 38.) Plaintiff states that arrestees who are not able to pay their money bail amount are shown a poster listing the phone numbers of bail bond agents and told that they may call one of these numbers to attempt to secure their release. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 39.) Plaintiff alleges arrestees who obtain release through bail bond agents remain in jail while arranging cosigners and finalizing the bail bond contract. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 39.) According to Plaintiff, this process can take hours or days. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 39.)

Plaintiff alleges that if an arrestee can afford to pay her bail amount, the Sheriff's Department accepts the bail payment and orders the release of the arrestee. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 40.) Plaintiff further states that if an arrestee cannot afford to pay her bail amount, the Sheriff's Department keeps her in jail until either she can make other arrangements to obtain her release, she is discharged, or she is taken to court two to five days later for arraignment. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 41.) Consequently, Plaintiff alleges that "[a]rrestees are given a right to release pending trial, but Defendants' pay-for-freedom system conditions their release on their ability to afford money bail, thus tying their pretrial freedom to their wealth-status." (ECF No. 31, ¶ 47.)

Plaintiff alleges the Bail Law violates substantive due process because the system is not narrowly tailored to public safety or ensuring court appearances. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 74.) Plaintiff further alleges that non-wealth-based alternatives to the money bail system exist and could be implemented. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 75.) Moreover, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants' wealth-based detention system is excessive in relation to its purpose to ensure court appearances considering successful non-money-based systems that do not infringe on the fundamental right to pretrial liberty, such as phone and text message reminders of court dates, rides to court *929for those without transportation or a stable address, counseling, SCRAM bracelets (for alcohol testing), and electronic monitoring services. (ECF No. 31, ¶¶ 76-77, 80.) According to Plaintiff, subjecting the poor to unnecessary pretrial detention causes instability in employment, housing, and care dependent relatives. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 84.) Plaintiff further alleges that unnecessary pretrial detention also leads to worse outcomes at trial when compared with those released pretrial. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 84.) Plaintiff states that unnecessary pretrial detention causes difficulties in preparing a defense, gathering evidence and witnesses, and meeting with their lawyers. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 84.) Plaintiff also alleges that the Bail Law does not provide individualized assessments of risk level. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 78.) For these reasons, Plaintiff alleges Defendants' policy and practice of enforcing the money-based bail system is excessive in relation to the Bail Law's regulatory purpose. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 111.)

Plaintiff brings suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (" § 1983"). (ECF No. 31, ¶ 7.) Plaintiff alleges the County violates Plaintiffs' Fourteenth Amendment rights by its policy and practice of implementing the Bail Law's wealth-based detention system. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 112.) Plaintiff alleges the Sheriff, in his official capacity, violates Plaintiffs' Fourteenth Amendment rights by implementing the Bail Schedule through his oversight of the county jail, by implementing the state's bail laws, and by enforcing provisions of California state law regarding the use of money bail. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 113.) Finally, Plaintiff alleges the AG, in her official capacity, violates Plaintiffs' Fourteenth Amendment rights by requiring the County and Sheriff to adopt and implement a bail schedule that results in detaining them solely because they cannot afford to pay money bail. (ECF No. 31, ¶ 114.)

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Bluebook (online)
343 F. Supp. 3d 924, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/welchen-v-cnty-of-sacramento-caed-2018.