What is cashless bail that Trump says he is about to introduce and has everyone talking?

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Monday to end cashless bail in Washington, D.C., a White House official told Fox News. Trump will also sign a second executive order to end cash bail across the country by threatening to cut federal money for places that keep the policy. This was first reported by the New York Post and confirmed by Fox News.

Earlier this month, Trump said he wanted to use Republican votes in Congress to end no-cash bail because, in his words, “Democrats are weak on crime, totally weak on crime.” Trump has strongly criticized no-cash bail. He called it a “disaster everywhere”, pointing at New York and Chicago. He said, “Somebody murders somebody and they’re out on no-cash bail before the day is out.”

What is cashless bail

Cashless bail means people arrested do not need to pay money to be released from the jail before their trial. Supporters see it as a progressive justice reform. A report from the Data Collaborative for Justice in February 2024 found mixed results, ending bail increased repeat crimes for people with violent or recent records, but reduced repeat crimes for people charged with minor offenses or those with no recent record, as reported by Fox News.


New York passed cashless bail in 2019 under former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the law has continued under current Governor Kathy Hochul. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is also a former police officer says, the bail reforms led to more crime because offenders kept getting arrested and released.

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Trump targets crime in D.C. and Chicago

Adams will face Andrew Cuomo in November’s mayoral election, since the former governor is now running for mayor. Another candidate, Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who won the June primary and is seen as the front-runner, supports going further by ending all cash bail and even abolishing prisons, as reported by Fox News. as per the reports.

As per the reports, earlier this month, Trump also announced a plan to make Washington, D.C. “safer and more beautiful,” targeting crime and homelessness. On Friday, Trump said he was thinking about sending the National Guard to Chicago, calling the city “a mess.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson fired back, calling Trump’s idea “uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound.” Trump earlier in the day called Johnson “grossly incompetent.”

Johnson defended Chicago, saying the city has cut homicides by 30%, robberies by 35%, and shootings by almost 40% in the last year. Johnson also warned that bringing in federal troops would damage public trust. Even with these improvements, Chicago still struggles with poverty, gang violence, and a crime rate higher than the national average, as stated by Fox News.

FAQs

Q1. What does Trump’s executive order on cashless bail mean?
Trump plans to end cashless bail in Washington, D.C., and nationwide by threatening to cut federal funding for places that keep it.

Q2. Why is Trump against cashless bail?
Trump says no-cash bail increases crime, pointing to New York and Chicago as examples where offenders are released quickly and reoffend.