What A Day Cash Bail Keeps People In Jail
Aug 29, 2025
Rena Karefa-Johnson, Vice President of National Initiatives at FWD.us, dives into the crucial debate over cash bail policies. She challenges misconceptions propagated by political rhetoric and emphasizes the injustice faced by marginalized communities under the current system. The conversation uncovers the interplay between cash bail and public safety, illustrating the pressing need for reform. Additionally, Rena addresses the intersection of mental health issues and crime, advocating for a holistic approach to justice and societal well-being.
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What Cash Bail Reform Actually Does
- Eliminating cash bail means release decisions won't depend on wealth, not that dangerous defendants go free.
- Jurisdictions can still detain people pretrial if they're a public-safety risk.
Cash Bail Criminalizes Poverty
- Cash bail functions as a mechanism of criminalizing poverty, detaining many pretrial who can't pay.
- This disproportionately harms poor, Black, Brown, and immigrant communities.
Kalief Browder's Tragic Example
- Rena Karefa-Johnson recounts Kalief Browder's case to show cash bail harms people who can't pay.
- Browder spent three years on Rikers for a stolen backpack allegation and was later found not guilty.