On Wednesday, a contentious bill was signed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), which mandates cash bail for more offenses requiring such financial obligations, according to a press release from his office.
The state Senate bill, S.B. 63, expands the list of offenses that necessitate cash bail in Georgia to include racketeering, se*x trafficking, and animal cruelty. This legislation was introduced by five Republican sponsors, among them Senate Majority Whip Sen. Randy Robertson.
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Kemp stated during the bill signing ceremony that “this bill carries out important bail reforms that will ensure dangerous individuals cannot walk our streets and commit further crimes,” according to his office’s release.
In response, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia issued a strong condemnation of the bill, calling S.B. 63 “cruel, costly, and counterproductive” in a statement released Wednesday.
The statement pointed out, “Research shows that sweeping people into incarceration only increases crime and taxpayer costs, and yet Georgia locks up a higher percentage of its people than any other state in the country.”
The ACLU further asserted, “SB 63 doubles down on that position, forcing even more people to languish in jail because they are poor or mentally ill.”
They expressed disappointment that Gov. Kemp has prioritized political gain over the welfare of Georgia residents and announced plans to challenge S.B. 63 in court to prevent its implementation.
