Utah Senate passes bill to help poor who can’t afford bail

The Senate passed a bill Wednesday that aims to end what supporters say is an unfair system where the wealthy who can afford bail are released before their trials, but the poor often remain jailed.It voted 25-1 to pass HB206, and sent it to Gov. Gary Herbert for his consideration.Rep. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Salt Lake City, a prosecutor in the Davis County attorney’s office, sponsored the bill, saying the current criminal justice rules about bail and release create “a two-tier wealth-ba