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Bail Reform

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a seated man with light-toned skin and short-cropped dark hair, signs a bill that is composed of a high stack of papers. Eight masked people with varying skin tones and genders stand behind him.
Election 2024 August 1
Facing Rollbacks, Criminal Justice Reformers Argue Policies Make People Safer
Advocates are refining their rebuttal to “tough on crime” messaging: Don’t focus on punishment, but on reforms that improve public safety.
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Testify February 8
What Happens During Cuyahoga County’s Criminal Arraignment Process?
An explainer on the felony arraignment process in Cuyahoga County.
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Testify October 20
How We Analyzed Changing Bail Trends in Cuyahoga County
Unpacking a complex, changing system.
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A woman, wearing a KN95 mask, black cardigan, blue blouse, and black pants, walks in front of a sign that reads "Los Angeles Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Courthouse."
Closing Argument September 30, 2023
Should Money Decide Who is Kept in Jail? More Locations Are Saying No.
Los Angeles and Illinois are the latest jurisdictions to change their cash bail system.
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An illustration shows the back of a Black man looking up at a tall building, the Cuyahoga County Justice Center. In front of the building is a panel of three portraits, representing a roulette of judges.
Testify September 11, 2023
Cuyahoga County Judges Vowed to Reform the Bail System. Here’s What Happened.
Court officials informally changed their bail-setting practices for felony cases. Now, fewer people have to pay to get out of jail, a Marshall Project analysis shows.
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A group of more than 30 protestors walk through Cleveland’s downtown, holding posters advocating for bail reform and better conditions at the county jail.
Testify September 11, 2023
Six Years of Bail Reform in Cuyahoga County: A Timeline
How public pressure, inhumane jail conditions, and informal agreements reshaped the Cuyahoga County bail system.
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Testify June 28
The Basics of Bail in Ohio
How do people get out of jail while they’re accused of a crime?
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A light-skinned person, wearing a red hat and blue jacket, casts their ballot at a voting booth. An electronic voting machine can be seen on the left, in a different voting booth.
Closing Argument November 12, 2022
7 Key Criminal Justice Takeaways From the Midterms
Sheriffs. Prosecutors. Abortion and slavery amendments. Here’s what you should know about this week’s results.
By The Marshall Project
Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden spoke during a drive-in campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 2.
News November 8, 2020
What Biden’s Win Means for the Future of Criminal Justice
Joe Biden ran on the most progressive criminal justice platform of any major party candidate in generations. So what can he actually do?
By The Marshall Project Staff
The System October 30, 2020
The State of Bail Reform
Bail reform is state-by-state and full of fits and starts. Some activists are taking direct action, raising funds to bail out defendants too poor to pay.
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