Texas county jails detain more than 53,000 people on any given day who have not been found guilty of a crime. The vast majority remain in jail simply because they cannot afford bail: the amount set by the court that a person must pay to be released.
This brief provides a high-level overview of Texas’ two-tiered bail system. It describes how the current approach to pretrial decision-making fails to deliver the safety and justice that Texans deserve — at great human and financial cost. And it includes recommended improvements to our pretrial system.
Stay Informed
Sign up to be the first to hear about how to take action.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.