President Donald Trump has once again called for the immediate end of cashless bail, linking the policy to the surge in violent crime in U.S. cities and the growing threat to law enforcement officers. In a post on TRUTH Social, the former president claimed that the shift to cashless bail has led to a ‘complete disaster,’ with the ‘WORST criminals’ flooding the streets and endangering even the most dedicated law enforcement personnel. This assertion comes amid a series of attacks on officers, including the recent shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer in New York City, which has fueled national discourse on crime and public safety. The incident, in which the suspect was identified as a previously deported individual with a lengthy criminal record, has been used by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to criticize ‘sanctuary’ policies in major urban centers like New York and Los Angeles. Noem argued that these policies have contributed to an environment where criminals can operate with relative impunity, endangering both residents and police officers.
The debate over cashless bail has become a contentious issue, with critics like Trump arguing that the policy has increased crime rates and put law enforcement at greater risk. However, advocates for bail reform, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, have defended the policy as a necessary step toward addressing racial and economic disparities in the criminal justice system. Adams, a former police officer, has been a vocal critic of the state’s cashless bail law, which was implemented by former Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2019. While Adams has acknowledged that the policy has led to increased crime in some areas, he has also argued that the current approach is more effective in reducing racial and income-based inequities. The debate has taken on new political significance as both Adams and Cuomo prepare to face off in the upcoming mayoral election, with Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who has advocated for the elimination of cash bail and the abolition of prisons, seen as a potential threat to their campaigns.
The issue of cashless bail is also gaining traction in other parts of the country, including Illinois, where all cash bail was eliminated in 2023 under the SAFE-T Act. The law, which includes provisions to remove cash bail for most offenses, was supported by Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago, who argued that the policy would reduce disparities in the criminal justice system. However, the move has faced strong opposition from police officials and criminal justice experts, who claim that the policy has led to increased crime rates and placed officers in greater danger. In Los Angeles, the implementation of the Pre-Arraignment Release Protocol (PARP), which eliminated cash bail for most nonviolent offenses, has also sparked controversy. While the Los Angeles Superior Court has defended the policy as a tool for reducing overcrowding in jails and allowing judges to conduct individualized risk assessments, critics argue that the policy has failed to address the underlying issues of public safety and systemic inequity. As the debate over cashless bail continues to unfold, it remains a central issue in the broader conversation about criminal justice reform, public safety, and the role of government in addressing crime in the United States.