The Bail Project, a well-known non-profit dedicated to aiding low-income individuals in pretrial detention, has announced it will quickly re-initiate services in Atlanta. This decision comes upon the heels of a recent temporary legal block against a Georgia law that imposed severe restrictions on the ability of organizations to assist with bail payments. In June, the non-profit put a hold on its local activities citing the new legislation, which effectively capped the number of cash bonds an entity could post without adhering to stringent bail bond company requirements.
According to a WABE report, U.S. District Judge Victoria Marie Calvert delivered the preliminary injunction, criticizing the three-bond limit as arbitrary and recognizing the historical significance of posting bail as a form of social activism and reform. In her ruling on July 12, Judge Calvert highlighted, "Posting bail for others as an act of faith and an expression of the need for reform has an important history in this country." Following this announcement, The Bail Project vowed to renew their commitment to the Atlanta community, emphasizing the unnecessary nature of cash bail through their extensive work nationally and locally.
The facility claims to have supported 31,000 individuals across the U.S. and points out that an overwhelming majority, 91% of them, returned for their court appointments. "Our support of 31,000 people nationwide – including 1,600 in Atlanta – who returned to 91% of their court dates provides compelling evidence that cash bail is unnecessary, and that investment in better pretrial infrastructure and supportive services offers better solutions," the organization stated.
Concurrently, the Georgia Attorney General's Office has decided to appeal the ruling. They argue that the restrictions do not infringe upon the plaintiffs' rights to free speech and association because, according to them, the act of paying bail does not necessarily convey a deliberate message. Supporters of the law contend that organizations like The Bail Project should be capable to follow the same protocols as bail bond companies, including background checks and securing the local sheriff’s approval. This legislation is part of a broader conservative effort to limit the activities of community bail funds, especially those that rose to prominence during the protests for racial justice in 2020 and more recent demonstrations against a new public safety training center being built near Atlanta.
