End cash bail
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“With liberty and justice for all” rings true for Americans as a basic right. Sadly, the reality is that 78% of people in Hamilton County jail are there - BEFORE their day in court - largely because they cannot afford to pay bail.
People shouldn’t be in jail because they can’t afford bail. Freedom before trial, with community support and engagement, should be the norm. |
Video credit: Global Citizen
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Voluntary Community Support and Engagement
Since most individuals do not intentionally miss court appearances, simple court reminders have proven effective in increasing court appearances. Individuals receive text reminders or phone calls of upcoming court dates. Many jurisdictions use court date notification systems, similar to the systems used by our doctors and dentists to send us appointment reminders. Some communities also offer assistance arranging transportation or child care when needed to attend court, removing more of the common logistical challenges.
Real public safety is created when we meet the needs of individuals and communities. When basic needs are met, people accused of a crime are more likely to meet court obligations, as well as stay out of jail.
Real public safety is created when we meet the needs of individuals and communities. When basic needs are met, people accused of a crime are more likely to meet court obligations, as well as stay out of jail.
The Results Are In
Cash bail is not necessary for getting people to show up to trial, nor does it improve public safety. The experiences from states and localities around the country confirm that pretrial release should be the norm.
Across the county, communities are standing together to create public safety solutions that are rational, moral, and fiscally responsible. Hamilton County doesn’t have to start from scratch in re-imagining public safety without cash bail. Learn more about what happens after cash bail from The Bail Project and Vera's "Beyond Jails: Community-Based Strategies for Public Safety."
Across the county, communities are standing together to create public safety solutions that are rational, moral, and fiscally responsible. Hamilton County doesn’t have to start from scratch in re-imagining public safety without cash bail. Learn more about what happens after cash bail from The Bail Project and Vera's "Beyond Jails: Community-Based Strategies for Public Safety."
Go Deeper
- Misdemeanor bail reform in Harris County, Texas, has been shown to actually increase public safety. Analysis of over half a million cases, 2015-2022, revealed that people were spending less time pretrial in jail and were less likely to reoffend after release. Fewer people felt pressured to take plea deals, and there was a reduction in conviction rates and lengths of sentences. This means fewer people were serving time for crimes they did not commit.
- Washington DC eliminated pretrial detention for misdemeanors back in the 1960s and prohibited cash bail in the 1990s. In DC, 94% of people are released pretrial without bail and about 93% of them returned to court for appearance dates.
- New Jersey’s bail reform reduced jail population and saved taxpayers millions of dollars. Court appearance rates have remained high, and people released without bail have been no more likely to be charged with new crimes before they return to court.
- New York City’s Pretrial Release Dashboard shows more people waiting for their case resolution live among the community without posting bail. According to the NYC Comptroller, the number of released people awaiting trial "who are rearrested remained roughly the same before and after implementation of bail reforms. . . . 99% of people, regardless of bail or other pretrial conditions, were not rearrested on a violent felony charge."