Trump Ends Cashless Bail in Federal Jurisdiction

President Trump issues executive order ending cashless bail for federal detainees, shifting toward secured bond requirements.

n a major policy shift that's already sparking intense debate, President Trump has officially ended the use of cashless bail within the federal criminal justice system through an executive order signed Thursday afternoon. This move effectively requires federal courts to implement secured financial conditions for pretrial release, moving away from the signature-based release protocols that have become common in many jurisdictions. The order specifically targets the Department of Justice's pretrial services division, mandating that federal prosecutors seek financial assurances in most non-violent cases. Attorney General William Barr voiced strong support for the measure, stating, "This restores accountability to our system and ensures defendants have skin in the game. Personal recognizance releases have undermined public safety and respect for the judicial process."

Looking at the technical implementation, this isn't just a simple flip of a switch. The order requires the U.S. Courts Administrative Office to overhaul its pretrial risk assessment algorithms within 90 days, incorporating financial accountability metrics into the existing Point-Based System (PBS) used by federal magistrates. What's interesting is that the directive creates exemptions for certain non-violent offenders below specific criminal history point thresholds, while maintaining cashless options for military veterans in treatment programs. The DOJ will need to establish new protocols for determining bond amounts based on offense severity and flight risk calculations, something that's going to require significant updates to the current Pretrial Services Agency case management framework.

The reaction from law enforcement and judicial circles has been predictably mixed. Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes called it "a welcome return to common-sense practices that protect communities," while several federal public defenders have already raised constitutional concerns about equal protection implications. The administrative burden on federal courthouses is expected to be substantial initially, particularly in districts with high-volume dockets. What remains unclear is how this might influence state-level bail reforms that have been moving in the opposite direction. As one senior judicial official who asked not to be named put it, "This isn't just changing forms - it's changing philosophy. We're about to see how deep the rabbit hole goes on pretrial justice."