Georgia senators want to require cash bail for more crimes than under current law
Fox News
Senators in Georgia want to prevent people from committing additional crimes by requiring cash bail for more crimes than under current law.
Currently, someone accused of a crime in Georgia is required to post cash or property to get out of jail for only seven severe crimes, such as murder or rape. The measure adds 53 additional crimes to the list, including passing a worthless check, or misdemeanors such as reckless driving or fighting in a public place. It undoes parts of a 2018 law championed by former Gov. Nathan Deal that sought to eliminate cash bail for most misdemeanor crimes.
Opponents say the reversal means more poor people will sit in jail and risk losing their jobs and housing, including when accused of crimes for which they're unlikely to ever go to prison.
"The problem is cash bail uses the most blunt weapon that we have to try to attack crime. And that’s jail. Just jail," said Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Sandy Springs Democrat.