TAKE ACTION! » Urge Ohio Lawmakers to Improve Bail Reform Bill!
Imagine being accused of a crime, having the judge set a bail amount that you and your family could not afford, and then languishing in a jail cell for days, weeks or even months on end awaiting trial. While you sit in jail, you lose your job, your housing, and your family struggles to make ends meet. You have not been convicted of a crime, and are presumed innocent under the law. This is a daily reality for far too many Ohioans.
Ohio legislators introduced House Bill 439 to address the broken bail system in Ohio – but it doesn’t go far enough. HB 439 would require courts to use a risk assessment tool in misdemeanor cases to determine whether a person should be held in jail, but it does not do away with the corrupt use of money bail overall. The simple fact that legislators are addressing this issue is a step forward, but more must be done.
Stop the death penalty in Ohio. Contact Governor Kasich and urge him to halt all executions.
Learn about our priorities for the year by reading our ACLU of Ohio Foundation Work Plan.
Writing your legislators? Use these tips.
Are you concerned a judge has acted improperly in a court case? See our step by step explanation of how to file a complaint against a judge.
Not sure who represents you in the statehouse? Click here to find out.
See the current Ohio General Assembly Committee Hearing Schedule for legislation with a civil liberties component.