Learn More about Cash Bail

What is cash bail?

Cash Bail is a System in our Criminal Justice System which allows people who have been arrested to pay for leave instead of having to stay in a prison/jail cell under pre-trial detention until your court date. When you pay for bail, you will be given back the amount you have paid so long that you were going to be appearing at your court date.

Pre-Trial detention: You are detained until your trial after you have been arrested and charged for an offense. While on pre-trial detention, you are to be held at a prison or detention center or under house arrest.

The problems of Cash Bail

Cash Bail is a System in our Criminal Justice System which allows people who have been arrested to pay for leave instead of having to stay in a prison/jail cell under pre-trial detention until your court date. When you pay for bail, you will be given back the amount you have paid so long that you were going to be appearing at your court date.

Pre-Trial detention: You are detained until your trial after you have been arrested and charged for an offense. While on pre-trial detention, you are to be held at a prison or detention center or under house arrest.

This is catered towards rich people, and it shows.

As surprising as it may sound, 4 out of 10 Americans aren't able to pay even a $400 unplanned fee for emergency use. Meaning that since the average bail prices are in the thousands, this would be a tremendous setback for many families residing in America.

Learn more.

Slide through to see 4 people who have been affected by our Cash Bail System.

Bureau of Justice Statistics data shows that the average bail amounts have increased by over $30,000 between 1992 and 2006.

More than 60% of inmates in our jails today are awaiting trial, and we spend more than $9 billion annually to incarcerate them.

Bail practices are frequently discriminatory, with Black men 35% more likely to be assessed a higher bail amount than white men, and Latino Men 19% more likely to be assessed a higher bail amount than white men, even if they have committed similar crimes.

How would prisons look if we abolish/reform the Cash Bail System?

Abolishing/Reforming the Cash Bail System would greatly decrease the already dense prison population the United States have, and this is because like mentioned above, 60% of inmates in our jails today are awaiting trial.

Also mentioned above, we would be saving a lot more money as along with having more than half our prison population currently awaiting trial, it costs counties across the nation roughly $9 Billion annually

Below are some pieces of media you can read about Cash Bail.