Excessive Bail

A large bail can be an insurmountable obstacle to going home

For those who’ve been arrested and charged with a crime, this can mean spending months or even years in jail awaiting trial. The good news is that there are many organizations across the US involved in the fight for bail reform.

Excessive Bail Stories

The Kenneth Humphrey case is important because it was the first case that we know of that requires judges to consider a person’s ability to pay before setting money bail. Because of this case, all California courts must consider, to a certain extent, a person’s ability to pay.

“He stole $5 and a bottle of cologne. His bail was set at $350,000” (LA Times)

“Defendant in landmark San Francisco bail case released from jail” (San Francisco Chronicle)

Million Dollar Hoods‘ research follows the money of mass incarceration, with a focus on the Los Angeles area.

Access to Freedom: Caged L.A.

The Price for Freedom: Bail in the City of L.A.

Detaining Innocent People Because of Money Isn’t Justice, It’s Criminal (LA Progressive)

What You Can Do

Get involved to help reduce the burden of excessive bail.

Connect with organizations that work to bail people out, including:

National Bail Out Collective, a community-based movement to end pretrial detention and mass incarceration

The Bail Project, which combats mass incarceration at the front end by paying bail for tens of thousands of low-income Americans at risk of pretrial detention

Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, which pays bail for New Yorkers who can’t afford even modest amounts

Appolition lets you automatically donate your spare change from your purchases to various community bail funds

Help Organizations in the Fight for Bail Reform

All of Us or None (AOUON) is a national organizing effort to strengthen the voices of formerly incarcerated people. Find a national chapter and get involved by filling out this form.