Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) addressing the U.S. House of Representatives regarding the Cashless Bail Reporting Act.
During his remarks, Raskin discusses the purpose and function of bail within the justice system, clarifying that it is not intended to be a mechanism for punishment. He emphasizes that the federal judicial system has operated on a cashless bail model for over six decades, prioritizing public safety and flight risk assessment over a defendant’s ability to pay. Raskin argues that the focus of pre-trial detention should remain on whether an individual poses a danger to the community or is a flight risk, rather than their financial status. He concludes by expressing support for the reporting legislation, viewing it as a way to officially organize and verify information about bail policies already in use across various jurisdictions.