Bail Reform

Your Essential Criminal Justice Guide to Election Night

From sheriffs to bail to marijuana, and more—here’s what you need to know.

Daniel Nichanian Nov 05, 2018

Harris County Judges May Face a Reckoning Over Bail On Election Day

Republican misdemeanor judges in Houston have clung to an unconstitutional bail system. But their intransigence could cost them their seats.

Maura Ewing Nov 04, 2018

Cash Bail Yields A New Casualty

A Texas jail suicide involving a woman who couldn’t make bail in a shoplifting case highlights of the plight of pretrial detainees with mental illness.

Lauren Gill Oct 12, 2018

One Year After Cook County’s Bail Reform, Court Watchers Say Things Are Getting Worse

Judges are still setting bail at unaffordable levels, and more people are being held without bond.

Bryce Covert Oct 05, 2018

NYC Prosecutors Are Stoking Fear About the Mass Bailout, But Their Arguments Don’t Add Up

District attorneys’ comments belie the true purpose of bail in New York and ignore the safety risks of jail itself.

John Pfaff Oct 02, 2018

California could soon end money bail, but at what cost?

The passage of Senate Bill 10 would decimate the bail industry, but many advocates say it falls short of true reform.

Max Rivlin-Nadler Aug 22, 2018

Justice in America Episode 4: A Conversation With John Legend

Josie and Clint talk with the artist about criminal justice reform and his #FREEAMERICA campaign.

Josie Duffy Rice, Clint Smith Aug 15, 2018

New Orleans Court Ordered To Stop Funding Itself On The Backs Of The Poor

The criminal court was funneling millions of dollars a year from poor communities.

Bryce Covert Aug 13, 2018

Harris County DA Ran as a Reformer. So Why is She Pushing High Bail for Minor Offenses?

An email obtained by The Appeal shows Kim Ogg's office is intentionally asking for unaffordable bail amounts to hold certain people in jail in Texas.

Alex Hannaford Aug 09, 2018

Ohio Council Member Wants to Implant Microchips in People Awaiting Trial

Taking electronic monitoring to the next level.

Kira Lerner Aug 07, 2018

Philadelphia Courts are Running a Financial Scheme That Profits Off The Poor

And padding city and state coffers with millions of dollars.

Maura Ewing Aug 03, 2018

The Appeal Podcast Episode 9: The History––and Promise––of the Bail Abolition Movement

With journalist Bryce Covert.

Adam H. Johnson Jul 26, 2018

Justice in America Episode 1: Justice for the Rich, Money Bail

Introducing a new podcast from The Appeal, featuring Josie Duffy Rice and Clint Smith III.

Josie Duffy Rice, Clint Smith Jul 25, 2018

EXCLUSIVE: Documents Reveal Bronx DA’s Office Is Still Withholding Key Evidence In Prosecution of Bronx Teen

Pedro Hernandez’s case has inspired calls for reform, but he’s still being targeted for an alleged cell phone theft.

Simon Davis-Cohen, George Joseph Jul 18, 2018

The Court Watch Movement Wants To Expose The ‘House of Cards’

Prosecutors and judges across the country are starting to feel eyes on them.

Bryce Covert Jul 16, 2018

Prosecutors and Judges in Pennsylvania County Hammer Defendants in Low-Level Drug Cases

In overdose-wracked Franklin County, Pennsylvania, a small-time dealer is denied bail, while the number of drug induced homicide cases has skyrocketed.

Joshua Vaughn Jul 09, 2018