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The Bail Project
The Bail Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization aiming to pay bail for people who are not financially capable of doing so themselves. The Bail Project also provides pretrial services. The Bail Project was founded in 2017 by Robin Steinberg. In January 2018, the organization launched its first site as a national operation. As of 2020, it has 22 locations across the United States and has helped pay bail for over 12,000 people. The organization is governed by a board of directors and funded by private donations from individuals and philanthropic foundations. It publicly releases annual reports detailing its finances, operations, and impact metrics.
Critics of the bail system in the United States that question the ethics of the system. The Bail Project's position is that cash bail contributes to a two-tiered justice system in the United States where those with financial resources can secure pretrial freedom while poorer defendants remain incarcerated.
The Bail Project also criticizes the commercial bail industry, describing it as predatory, likening bail bonds to “predatory payday loans” that extract nonrefundable premiums and collateral from low-income families and incentivize incarceration to maintain profits. The organization supports alternatives such as court reminders and voluntary support services.
Defendants are referred to The Bail Project by a public defender, and from there, they are interviewed to determine if they should receive support from the organization. In addition to providing direct bail assistance and pretrial support, The Bail Project engages in policy advocacy aimed at reducing the use of cash bail and pretrial incarceration including testifying before state legislatures.
The organization's work has been profiled by national outlets including The New York Times, which examined how bail funds operate and influence pretrial outcomes, and NPR, which highlighted the expansion of charitable bail funds and their role in criminal justice reform.
The Bail Project was founded in 2017 by Robin Steinberg, who is also the founder of The Bronx Defenders. In her time as a public defender, Steinberg found that when a judge would set bail and her client did not have the money, they would often plead guilty even if they were innocent. This motivated Steinberg to push The Bail Project forward as a way of challenging the cash bail system.
Robin Steinberg stepped down as CEO on March 6, 2023, and was succeeded by David Gaspar, who had served as the organization’s National Director of Operations. Gaspar, who is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the organization, began his career at The Bail Project as a bail disruptor and rose through roles including site manager and regional director before becoming CEO.
According to their 2024 annual report, The Bail Project has posted $91 million in bail with the help of donations, and has helped 34,525 people since 2018. The Bail Project also provides pretrial support, including making sure that clients are aware of their court dates.
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The Bail Project
The Bail Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization aiming to pay bail for people who are not financially capable of doing so themselves. The Bail Project also provides pretrial services. The Bail Project was founded in 2017 by Robin Steinberg. In January 2018, the organization launched its first site as a national operation. As of 2020, it has 22 locations across the United States and has helped pay bail for over 12,000 people. The organization is governed by a board of directors and funded by private donations from individuals and philanthropic foundations. It publicly releases annual reports detailing its finances, operations, and impact metrics.
Critics of the bail system in the United States that question the ethics of the system. The Bail Project's position is that cash bail contributes to a two-tiered justice system in the United States where those with financial resources can secure pretrial freedom while poorer defendants remain incarcerated.
The Bail Project also criticizes the commercial bail industry, describing it as predatory, likening bail bonds to “predatory payday loans” that extract nonrefundable premiums and collateral from low-income families and incentivize incarceration to maintain profits. The organization supports alternatives such as court reminders and voluntary support services.
Defendants are referred to The Bail Project by a public defender, and from there, they are interviewed to determine if they should receive support from the organization. In addition to providing direct bail assistance and pretrial support, The Bail Project engages in policy advocacy aimed at reducing the use of cash bail and pretrial incarceration including testifying before state legislatures.
The organization's work has been profiled by national outlets including The New York Times, which examined how bail funds operate and influence pretrial outcomes, and NPR, which highlighted the expansion of charitable bail funds and their role in criminal justice reform.
The Bail Project was founded in 2017 by Robin Steinberg, who is also the founder of The Bronx Defenders. In her time as a public defender, Steinberg found that when a judge would set bail and her client did not have the money, they would often plead guilty even if they were innocent. This motivated Steinberg to push The Bail Project forward as a way of challenging the cash bail system.
Robin Steinberg stepped down as CEO on March 6, 2023, and was succeeded by David Gaspar, who had served as the organization’s National Director of Operations. Gaspar, who is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the organization, began his career at The Bail Project as a bail disruptor and rose through roles including site manager and regional director before becoming CEO.
According to their 2024 annual report, The Bail Project has posted $91 million in bail with the help of donations, and has helped 34,525 people since 2018. The Bail Project also provides pretrial support, including making sure that clients are aware of their court dates.