DateIssued:August25,2025
Topic:CriminalJustice,LawEnforcement
Underthecashbailsystem,individualsaccusedofacrimemusteither payasignificantsumofmoneyorremainincarcerateduntiltheirtrial date.In1992,DCoverhauleditscashbailsystem,releasingindividuals accusedofcrimesbackintotheircommunitieswithoutfinancial penaltiesuntiltheirtrialdate.
ThisexecutiveorderoverridesWashington,DC’scashlessbailpolicyand authorizesfederallawenforcementagenciestoholdDCarresteesin federalcustody,pursuefederalchargesfortheiractions,andextend theirpretrialdetention.
TheorderexpandsonPresidentTrump’spreviousexecutiveorders declaringacrimeemergencyinDCandestablishingaDCSafeand BeautifulTaskForceandisalignmentwiththeTrumpAdministration’s goaltoendcashlessbailpoliciesnationwide.
ThisexecutiveorderwillprimarilybeenforcedbytheAttorneyGeneral (AG).
TheorderdirectstheAGtoidentifyanyoftheMetropolitanPolice Department’s(MPD)pretrialreleasepoliciesandpracticesandrequests thattheMayorofDCmodifytheminaccordancewiththecrime emergencyexecutiveorder.
TheorderinstructstheAGtodetermineifDChasprohibitedcashbailfor crimesthatpose“aclearthreattopublicsafetyandorder,”including burglary,looting,andvandalism.
IftheAGfindsthatDChasprohibitedcashbail,theorderrequiresthe DirectoroftheOfficeofManagementandBudgetandappropriate agencyheadstotakeactionto“press”DCtoreinstatecashbailpolicies, includingareviewoffederalfundingdecisions. HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
DChasmaintainedacashlessbailsystemformorethan30years.This executiveorderplacespressureontheDistricttoreversethispolicyand incarceratemorepeople.In2023,over90%ofpeopleintheD.C. DepartmentofCorrectionswereBlack.Thisorderwouldincreasethat percentagebyincarceratingpeoplewhohavenotbeenconvictedof crimes.
Thecashbailsystemdisproportionatelyimpactslow-incomeBlack communities.TheU.S.CommissiononCivilRightsissuedareportin2022 thatfoundthatBlackmenreceivedbailamounts35%higherthanwhite menand16%higherthanLatinomen.Thereportalsofoundthatabout three-fourthsofthemorethan600,000peopleincarcerateddailyare awaitingtrial.Studiesshowthatanyamountoftimeinjailcorrelatesto increasedratesofmentalandphysicalillness,includingdepression, hypertension,cancer,andhepatitis.
PresidentTrump’sfederaltakeoverofDCanddeploymentoftheNational GuardandImmigrationandCustomsEnforcementofficialshasincreased BlackAmericans’harmfulinteractionswithlawenforcement.A2020study foundthatexpandingpoliceforcesincitieswiththelargestBlack populationsdisproportionatelyincreasedlow-levelarrestswithout equivalentpublicsafetybenefits.Moreover,a2023auditofpolice movementsfoundthatpoliceofficersspendsignificantlymoretimein Blackneighborhoodsthanotherareaswithsimilarsocioeconomic demographicsandcrimerates.BecauseBlackpeoplecomprisemore than40%oftheD.C.population,theincreasedlawenforcementpresence, combinedwiththepressuretoeliminateDC’scashbailsystem,willhave negativerepercussionsforDC’sBlackresidents.
CongresswomanEleanorHolmesNortonhasrepresentedWashington, DCinCongresssince1991.Sheisthelongestservingmemberofthe CongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)andhasbeenastaunchadvocatefor D.C.statehoodthroughouthercareer.Sheissuedthefollowingstatement inresponsetoPresidentTrump’sfederaltakeoveroftheDistrict:“President Trump’sdecisiontofederalizeMPDandactivatetheD.C.NationalGuardto addresscrimeisanhistoricassaultonD.C.homerule,isa counterproductive,escalatoryseizureofD.C.’sresourcestousefor purposesnotsupportedbyD.C.residents,andismoreevidenceofthe urgentneedtopassmyD.C.statehoodbill.CrimeinD.C.reacheda30yearlowin2024andisdown26%thisyearcomparedtothesametime periodlastyear.Theadministrationisjustifyingthedecisionby misleadinglycitingyears-oldstatistics.”FullStatement