The Bail Project

This #SubstanceUseAwarenessMonth, we’re talking about what people struggling with addiction actually need: care, support, and a path to recovery – not a jail cell. Every year, millions of people with substance use disorders are caught up in the criminal justice system. Jail doesn’t address the root causes of substance use or provide the treatment people need. In fact, less than 20% of incarcerated people with substance use disorders receive formal treatment. If we want safer, healthier communities, we need to invest in what actually helps: treatment, rehabilitation, and support – not punishment. At The Bail Project, we help people connect with supportive services, including substance use recovery, so they can get the care they need while staying connected to their communities. Join us at bailproject.org.

Pretrial justice is indigenous justice – and The Bail Project is committed to both. On the Flathead Reservation, home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, we provide free bail assistance, court support, and referrals to community-based services – restoring the presumption of innocence and keeping people connected to their communities. Indigenous people are disproportionately impacted by the cash bail crisis. When our client LaVonda, a mother and enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, was arrested for driving on a suspended license, the $250 bail she couldn't afford threatened to shatter her hard-won stability and momentum. With support from The Bail Project, she was able to return home and continue on her path to recovery, demonstrating how pretrial freedom is essential for supporting individuals to break cycles of trauma and build healthier futures. Join us in supporting clients facing unjust pretrial incarceration this #IndigenousPeoplesDay at bailproject.org.

More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. But when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, they’re too often met with handcuffs instead of care. Jail cuts people off from treatment, medication, loved ones, and the support systems they need – and can make their mental health even worse. And for people who can’t afford bail, a mental health crisis can become a cycle of incarceration. They can end up stuck in jail not because they’ve been convicted of a crime, but because they don’t have the money to go home. This #WorldMentalHealthDay, we’re calling for a better response: mental health care, community-based support, and treatment – not cages. At The Bail Project, we’re helping make sure people with mental illness aren't unnecessarily incarcerated because of cash bail. Mental illness is not a crime. Care – not incarceration – is the answer.

Millions of children in the U.S. experience trauma each year because they have a parent trapped behind bars. These children are more likely to develop mental health problems than their peers. This can also result in lower educational achievement and impaired relationships at school. Our client, Austin was building a steady life at home with his wife and two kids – bringing them to school, going to work, and playing football on weekends. But when his bail was set at $1,000, their family routines shattered. At The Bail Project, we reunite families by paying bail free and providing free supportive services to people trapped in pretrial detention. Join us at bailproject.org.

One traffic stop was all it took to unravel Alfredo's steady life as a chef. Unable to afford thousands of dollars in bail, he pleaded with the judge to lower the amount – but she denied him. Trapped in jail, Alfredo not only sank further into debt but was separated from his elderly mother who was experiencing dementia. "I remember crying on the phone when I couldn't even get a phone call through to my brothers and daughter," he said. Read Alfredo's full story at bailproject.org/alfredo.

For too many Latino families, cash bail turns poverty into punishment. Latino people in the U.S. face disproportionate incarceration rates and a higher risk of violence when encountering law enforcement. #HispanicHeritageMonth is not only about celebrating where Latino communities have been – it is about fighting for the future we deserve. That means keeping families together, protecting our communities, and demanding a justice system where freedom is not based on race or wealth. The Bail Project combats the systemic injustice of cash bail by paying bail for free and providing free pretrial support to those in need. Join us at bailproject.org.

This #SuicidePreventionMonth and every month, we're remembering Kalief Browder – a young man who was falsely arrested, assigned unaffordable cash bail, maintained his innocence, and was forced to suffer three years of pretrial incarceration on Rikers Island only to have his case dismissed and all charges dropped. He ultimately took his own life as a result of the trauma forced upon him. Kalief's story is a devastating reminder that the costs of pretrial injustice can be irreversible. Among formerly incarcerated people, nearly 20% of suicides occur within one year of release. At The Bail Project, we're working to bring people like Kalief home before trial – so no one has to suffer behind bars simply because they cannot afford bail. Pretrial support can be life saving. Join us at bailproject.org.

Most conversations about abortion bans stop at access to care. But what happens after criminalization? When abortion is criminalized, wealth can determine what happens next. People with financial resources can travel for care and, if they're arrested, often pay bail and return home while awaiting trial. People without that same financial security can spend weeks or months in jail before they've been convicted of anything – risking their health, jobs, housing, and families simply because they can't afford bail. That's why reproductive justice and bail reform are connected. Cash bail doesn't just punish poverty. In states that criminalize abortion, it can become another mechanism that deepens the harm of those laws, creating one system of justice for people with money and another for everyone else. At The Bail Project, we believe no one should lose their freedom simply because they can't afford bail. Ending wealth-based detention is about more than reforming our pretrial system – it's about building a future where people's rights and freedoms aren't determined by the size of their bank account.

Andrea’s children spent twelve days without their primary caregiver while she was trapped in jail. The hardships they faced left lasting scars. Her five-year-old cried every time she went to the bathroom. One of her sons didn't want to go to school. "He was depressed," Andrea said. "He felt out of place because his provider wasn't there." And Andrea risked missing her oldest son's high school graduation.

Normally when you miss an appointment, like for the doctor or the dentist, you're able to reschedule without any consequences. But for people in the pretrial system, the stakes are far higher. Just one missed court appearance can cost someone a lifetime of freedom. But research shows that most people who miss court dates aren't intentionally evading prosecution. Missed court dates are often the result of the routine chaos of life – forgetting a date, childcare needs, transportation issues, or confusion about scheduling. But there is a better way. At The Bail Project, we've proven that court notification systems are an effective way to help clients return to court. Court notification systems alert people about their upcoming court dates through text, email, and phone reminders. These notifications are critical to a well functioning pretrial system. And with hundreds of thousands of people in jail for as little as a missed court date, this is an issue we can no longer wait to address. The Bail Project is fighting to implement court notifications in jurisdictions across the country. Learn more: