stopbail

Stopbail is a term used to describe campaigns, coalitions, and advocacy efforts aimed at stopping or reversing pretrial detention reforms and the use of monetary bail. It is not the name of a single organization but a label applied by different groups across jurisdictions to describe opposition to bail reform measures that reduce or eliminate cash bail. The movement is typically associated with efforts to maintain traditional pretrial release practices, including payment-based release as a condition of liberty before trial.

Context for stopbail developments centers on debates over how to handle pretrial detention. Proponents of bail reform argue that cash bail creates inequities, detains individuals simply because they cannot afford to pay, and does not reliably reflect flight risk or danger. Opponents, including some stopbail supporters, contend that certain reforms may increase flight risk or jeopardize public safety, and they advocate preserving or restoring pretrial conditions that rely on payment or other restraints.

Activities associated with stopbail campaigns commonly include legislative lobbying, public communications, and litigation aimed at influencing policy decisions. Supporters seek to preserve cash bail requirements or impose stricter release conditions, while presenting arguments about public safety and accountability. Critics of stopbail, conversely, emphasize that bail reform aims to reduce unnecessary detention, address racial and economic disparities, and improve the fairness of the pretrial system.

Terminology note: stopbail is used as a broad descriptor for a range of positions in the bail policy debate and does not denote a single, unified policy proposal.