The Battle Over Cash Bail: Republican Pushback and Democratic Proposals.
Republican lawmakers in at least 14 states have introduced some 20 bills so far this year to make it harder for defendants to get out of jail before trial, including increasing the number of non-bailable offenses, requiring more people to pay cash bail, and encouraging or requiring judges to consider a defendant’s criminal record when setting bail. However, criminal justice experts and advocacy groups warn that the Republican-backed measures aren’t supported by research and could worsen crime rates and disparities between rich and poor. Recent Democratic overhaul measures in states such as Illinois and New York have sought to eliminate cash bail and lessen pretrial detention on the premise they do more harm than good, especially to marginalized groups.