[ No headline ]

The US may be ready to bail out of current, controversial bail laws. The issue reportedly got a thorough airing this week at closed-door sessions of the United States Judicial Conference. If it did, a White House plan for ''preventive detention'' of those accused of crime who are considered dangerous was almost certainly discussed. Civil liberties groups oppose such a move. They're more likely to favor procedures endorsed by the American Bar Association where a judge might consider the safety of the community in determining the conditions of bail. Now bail is set solely to ensure that a defendant is present for trial.

Tougher bail rules are likely. Congress and administration are bent on showing they're serious about cracking down on crime.m