FreedomWorks Foundation Content

Issue Brief: Reforming Bail and Pretrial Detention

One of the cornerstone principles of the Western legal tradition is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Over the last century, the imposition of bail requirements for accused offenders has flipped that presumption on its head, frequently making pre-trial freedom contingent on cash bail amounts well above the ability of an average citizen to pay. This issue brief explores how this came to be and aims to set out principles for states to use in reforming their bail guidelines. The goal is a return to a system that truly serves both justice and public safety.

You can read the full brief below or download it as a .pdf HERE.

FreedomWorks Issue Brief: B… by Joshua Withrow