In re Kowalczyk

Summary

The court held that the constitutional provisions governing bail must be harmonized: noncapital defendants may be denied bail only under the specified exceptions for violent, sexual-assault, or threatening felony offenses. When detention is not authorized, any monetary bail must be reasonable and generally attainable based on an individualized assessment of the totality of the circumstances, including the defendant's finances. Although the petition became moot after the petitioner was released following a plea, the court reached the recurring issues and affirmed the dismissal while disapproving inconsistent reasoning.