Today, California became the first state to officially eliminate cash bail. Under a new law signed by Governor Jerry Brown, suspects awaiting trial will be able to leave jail without having to post bail.
The new system, which will go into effect on October 1, 2019, will leave pretrial release decisions up to local judges. This comes after many complaints that the law unfairly incarcerates poor people, who are often kept in jail because they can’t afford to pay their bails.
“Today, California reforms its bail system so that rich and poor alike are treated fairly,” Brown said in a statement.
The new system will go into effect on October 1, 2019.
