For Immediate Release
Nov. 11, 2021
Contact:
Laura Millard Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
517-281-1084
Report: Bipartisan bail reform bills key to more racially and economically equitable justice system
League research, county data underscore need to stop jailing people for poverty
LANSING—As Michigan lawmakers from both sides of the aisle continue to work on modern, equitable criminal justice reforms, a new report from the Michigan League for Public Policy emphasizes the positive benefits of bipartisan legislation to reform the state’s pretrial and cash bail system.
The report, Punished Before Proven Guilty, finds that of the Michiganders in jail on any given day, half are awaiting trial, having not yet been convicted of a crime. And many of these people, around the state and in every county, are behind bars simply because they cannot afford bail, not because of their flight risk, danger to the public or guilt.
“The Michigan jails task force and lawmakers from both parties have already worked together to notch a number of big wins for criminal justice reform and racial and economic justice, and cash bail reform should be next,” said Gilda Z. Jacobs, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “Cash bail is unnecessary and inherently unfair, and does little to nothing to keep our communities safe. It only keeps people with lower incomes behind bars and disproportionately punishes people of color while privileging those with money and resources.”
Nationally, over 60% of arrested individuals unable to post bail fall within the one-third of society with the lowest incomes, and 80% are in the bottom half. A 2015 study found that people unable to post bail had a median annual income of $15,109 (in 2015 dollars) prior to their incarceration, which was less than half of the median income for non-incarcerated people of similar ages.
Imposing cash bail does not increase public safety. If a defendant is deemed to be a public safety risk, that individual will not be released on either cash bond or personal recognizance, because he or she will be a risk regardless of ability to pay cash bail. Meanwhile, this practice disproportionately punishes people of color and those with low incomes, while having no benefit to the communities in which they live.
The consequences of having to remain in jail due to not having bail money can be devastating to individuals and their families: loss of a job, financial hardship due to missing work, disrupted family and social relations, and trauma for family members—especially for children who are placed into Child Protective Services custody simply because their parent cannot afford cash bail. The harm to individuals, families and communities created by the current bail system far outweigh any negative consequences from eliminating it.
“Bail reform has champions from across the ideological spectrum and strong support in both parties because it appeals to fundamental values of fairness and justice,” said Jessica Ayoub of the ACLU of Michigan. “In 2021, we should all be able to agree that it’s time to stop incarcerating people because of their economic standing. It’s not doing anyone any good, while devastating individuals and families.”
The current cash bail system also disproportionately affects Black Michigan residents. First, the respective median annual incomes of Black men and women who are unable to make bail are significantly lower than their White and Hispanic counterparts. Black men and women have significantly higher income gaps than the other racial groups between those who are unable to make bail and those who are not incarcerated.
Income aside, various city and county studies across the nation found that Black and Brown defendants are 10-25% more likely than White defendants to be detained pretrial or to receive financial conditions of release. Moreover, median bond amounts for Black defendants are often about $10,000 higher than for White defendants.
In some counties, well over half of those incarcerated for felonies have not received a trial. For example, in Genesee County, 82% of those sitting in jail with felony charges have not received a trial compared to 46-47% in Macomb and Kent counties and only 1% in Oakland County, underscoring the disparity in bail policy across counties.
The League’s report recommends prompt action on House Bills 5436-5443 to overhaul the state’s outdated and inequitable pretrial and cash bail system. The bills have bipartisan sponsorship and are currently before the Michigan House Judiciary Committee for consideration.
The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to advance economic security, racial equity, health and well-being for all people in Michigan through policy change. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
