WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) cosponsored two bills backed by the Trump administration that would keep violent criminals off American streets by ending cashless bail policies that empower criminals to reoffend, including the Ending Cashless Bail in Our Nation’s Capital Act, which would ban cashless bail in Washington, D.C., and the Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act, which would ban the award of certain federal funds to states and localities that limit the use of cash bail:

“Cashless bail is a soft-on-crime policy that not only endangers innocent Americans, but also erodes trust in the justice system and drains law enforcement resources by forcing police to play a game of catch-and-release with repeat offenders,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Washington, D.C., should be a shining city the world looks to as a model for safety and security, which is I’m why proud to work with President Trump and Senator Blackburn to end the use of cashless bail nationwide.”

The legislation cosponsored by Sen. Cornyn is being led in the Senate by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and in the House by Representative Elise Stefanik (NY-21).

Background:

The Ending Cashless Bail in Our Nation’s Capital Act would require Washington, D.C. to use the highest level of cash bail necessary for dangerous offenders as a condition of pretrial release and ensure anyone charged with violent crimes like murder, rape, carjacking, and sexual abuse of a minor, robbery, or burglary stay behind bars while awaiting trial.

The Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act would prohibit the award of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to states or localities that limit the use of cash bail.

Many soft-on-crime, left-wing officials in the nation’s largest cities, including Washington, D.C., have released countless violent criminals who have demonstrated a clear risk to society back into their communities without bail, which incentivizes and rewards criminal acts.

Last month, President Trump signed two executive orders to protect law-abiding citizens from the harms of cashless bail in Washington, D.C., and nationwide. Sens. Cornyn and Blackburn’s legislation would build on his efforts and make them permanent.