The Problem with Bail
An interview with Robin Steinberg
Many Americans who are charged with a crime cannot afford the bail money required as a condition of release and, as a result, await their trial in jail for months or even years. According to critics, this cash bail system has created a two-tiered criminal justice system, one for the rich and one for the poor. With nearly two-thirds of the incarcerated population in the US made up of pretrial detainees, is it time to reevaluate the practice? As part of our "Lawyers for the Greater Good" series, Robin Steinberg of The Bail Project discusses the high cost of cash bail to individuals and communities and explores alternatives for reform.
