HB5120 Summary

• Expands grounds for pretrial detention to apply to any felony charge (rather than only specified forcible felonies) when defendant poses real and present threat to safety, based on specific articulable facts.

• Lowers State's burden of proof in pretrial detention hearings from clear and convincing evidence to preponderance of the evidence.

• Adds new detention ground for defendants with 2 or more prior convictions of the same felonies or misdemeanors who pose safety threat or flight risk.

• Adds new detention ground for defendants charged with any felony who have high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution.

• Requires detention hearings be conducted in person rather than by video unless defendant waives right, safety endangered, or chief judge approves due to operational challenges.