Expanded Bail Restrictions

SB 504 expands the list of offenses for which judges may deny bail, increasing pretrial detention across Georgia. The bill adds multiple offense categories to the existing bail restriction framework, making it harder for accused individuals to secure release before trial.

GPS opposes this bill because pretrial detention disproportionately impacts low-income individuals and communities of color. People held pretrial — who have not been convicted of any crime — lose jobs, housing, and custody of children. Research consistently shows that pretrial detention increases the likelihood of conviction and longer sentences, not because of guilt, but because of the coercive pressure to accept plea deals.