Maryland continues to grapple with its bail system. When someone is arrested for a crime, a judge can decide if they can be held in jail until trial. These defendants are legally innocent until their trial is held, but judges can decide to detain people who are deemed a flight risk, or a threat to public safety.
The criminal justice system works this way across the country. However, in Maryland, a much higher number of pretrial defendants are being held in jail due to issues with bail.
Today Midday examines bail reform with investigative journalist Maddi O’Neill and Editor-in-Chief of the Garrison Project Ethan Brown. The Garrison Project is an independent journalism organization covering mass incarceration.
