DateIssued:August25,2025
Topic:CriminalJustice,LawEnforcement WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
ThisexecutiveorderestablishestheTrumpAdministration’spolicyto withholdfederalresourcesfromjurisdictionsthathaveeliminatedcash bailpolicies.
Underthecashbailsystem,individualsaccusedofcrimeshavetopaya substantialamountofmoneyorremainincarcerateduntiltheirtrialdate.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
ThisexecutiveorderwillprimarilybeenforcedbytheAttorneyGeneral(AG).
TheorderinstructstheAGtosubmitareportofthestatesand municipalitiesthathaveeliminatedcashbailforcrimesthat“poseaclear threattopublicsafetyandorder”―includingburglary,looting,vandalism ―toPresidentTrumpandtheAssistanttothePresidentforHomeland Securitywithin30daysoftheorder’sissuance.
TheorderdirectstheAGtocontinuouslyupdatethislistbeyondthe30-day timeframeasappropriate.
TheorderrequirestheDirectoroftheOfficeofManagementandBudget andtheagencyheadstoidentifyallfederalfundingthatcouldbe terminatedinmunicipalitiesthathaveeliminatedcashbail.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
Thecashbailsystemdisproportionatelyimpactslow-incomeBlack communities.Pretrialdetentionhasincreasedfivefoldsince1970.In2022, sixintendefendantsweredetainedwithoutacriminalconviction becausetheycouldnotaffordtopostbail.
TheU.S.CommissiononCivilRightsissuedareportin2022thatfoundthat Blackmenreceivedbailamounts35%higherthanwhitemenand16% higherthanLatinomen.Thereportalsofoundthataboutthree-fourthsof themorethan600,000peopleincarcerateddailyareawaitingtrial. Studiesshowthatanyamountoftimeinjailcorrelatestoincreasedrates ofmentalandphysicalillness,includingdepression,hypertension,cancer, andhepatitis.
Eightstates,theDistrictofColumbia,andseveralcitieshaveeliminatedor reformedcashbailpolicieswithpositiveresults.In2017,NewJersey eliminatedcashbailformisdemeanorcrimes,allowingtheaccusedto returntotheircommunities,andgavejudgesdiscretionoverdefendants chargedwithfelonies.Despiteconcernsthatpeoplewouldnotreturnfor theircourtdatesorcommitmorecrimesastheyawaitedtrial,datahas shownotherwise.ThecityofPhiladelphiaimplementedasimilarpolicyin 2018,andIllinoisbecamethefirststatetofullyeliminatecashbailin2023, endingwhatadvocatescall“criminalpunishmentforpoverty.”Thisorder willpressurestatesandmunicipalitiestoincreasepretrialdetentionand detercashbailreform,whichwillnegativelyimpactBlackcommunities.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
MembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)havealonghistoryof advocacyforcashbailreform.Rep.TerriA.Sewell,Chairofthe CongressionalBlackCaucusFoundationBoardofDirectors,Rep.Ayanna PressleyandRep.BonnieWatsonColemanco-sponsoredH.R.1249,the NoMoneyBailActof2021,whichdiscouragestheuseofpaymentof moneyasaconditionofpretrialreleaseincriminalcases.
Rep.BonnieWatsonColeman:“Thestandardoperatingprocedures forourcriminaljusticesystemtoday―frommassincarceration,to sentencingbiases,tomonetarybail―havedebilitatingcostsforour communitiesandourbudgets.DuringmytimeinNewJersey’s legislature,andcontinuinghereinCongress,I’vefoughtforreforms thatwillensureourjusticesystemfocusesonrehabilitation,maintains equaltreatment,andconsidersalternativestoincarceration.I’mproud tojoinmycolleaguesinsupportofthisbill,becauseit’stimefor change.Sittingbehindbarsbeforeyou’vebeenconvictedofacrime-notbecauseyou’readangertothecommunitybutsimplybecause youcan’tpaytogetout--isexactlythekindofoutrageousstatusquo thathascausedsomuchsocietaldamage.”FullStatement
ToreadmoreabouttheCBC’slegacyoncriminaljusticeissues,visit Avoice,ourvirtuallibrary.