HPIO brief explores impact of pretrial incarceration, money bail system on health, safety and well-b

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) –  A new policy brief from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio explores the impact of pretrial incarceration and the money bail system on the health, safety and well-being of Ohioans and their communities. 

The latest in HPIO’s series on the connections between criminal justice and health, Pretrial incarceration and the bail system includes an examination of the impacts of pretrial incarceration on individuals and communities, describes the current state of pretrial policy in Ohio and promising bail alternatives in other states. The brief also includes state and local policy options to reform the money bail system, including options for courts, local governments, prosecutors and the state legislature.

For several years, policymakers across Ohio have been engaged in bipartisan efforts to reform the money bail system with the goal of increasing safety and justice in Ohio communities. The brief states that, “Because of the many connections between criminal justice and health, research indicates that bail reform will have positive impacts on the health and well-being of Ohioans. However, the path to policy change has been difficult and thousands of people continue to be incarcerated before being convicted of a crime.” 

HPIO will be hosting a free 30-minute webinar on the findings in the brief from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29. To learn more about HPIO’s work on the connections between criminal justice and health, click here.

This brief was financially assisted by the Ohio State Bar Foundation. 

For questions about the brief, or if you would like to talk with the authors of the report, please call or text Nick Wiselogel at 614.530.9918 or email  nwiselogel@hpio.net.  

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