GOP cash bail bills won't keep Ohioans safe

COLUMBUS—State Reps. David Leland (D-Columbus), ranking member on the House Criminal Justice committee, and Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) issued a statement today following the House Criminal Justice committee passage of House Joint Resolution (HJR) 2 and House Bill (HB) 607, legislation to increase Ohio’s reliance on cash bail.  

On any given day, over 60 percent of the people in Ohio jails haven’t been convicted of a crime - they are in jail because they can’t afford to pay cash bail. Innocent people are being put at risk of losing their jobs, their homes, and even custody of their children because they are low income. 

“There is no evidence that imposing high cash bail is effective at keeping the public safe. We’ve seen wealthy individuals buy their freedom and commit more crimes. Cash bail only gives us the illusion of safety,” said Rep. Leland.

Criminal justice advocates have instead called for action on HB 315, Rep. Leland’s bipartisan bail reform legislation that would promote public safety, save taxpayer dollars and ensure that all Ohioans are treated equally under the law. Today, the Criminal Justice committee also adopted a substitute bill for HB 315, which expands the provision of Ohio law that allows for preventative pretrial detention when people are arrested for serious crimes so courts do not have to rely on cash bail to keep dangerous criminal off the streets.  

HB 315 would give judges the tools they need to act in the interest of public safety and let them use their discretion so innocent people charged with minor crimes are not kept in jail simply because they’re poor. 

Studies show cash bail disproportionately harms people of color in Ohio. Black Ohioans are nearly twice as likely to be charged with a crime as white Ohioans,  and are more likely to be denied release compared to white individuals charged with a crime in the same category.

“No innocent person should have to pay a ransom for their freedom while waiting for a court hearing. The Republican bail bills will only increase the racial bias in our existing cash bail system,” said Rep. Brent. “All Ohioans deserve to be treated fairly under the law, regardless of their race. That’s why we need to take action on HB 315, a crucial first step in reforming our criminal justice system.”