The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has announced its collaboration with ACLU-Georgia and the Southern Center for Human Rights in filing a class-action lawsuit against Georgia’s Senate Bill 63. This legislation seeks to expand cash bail requirements for numerous offenses.
According to Restoration News, Senate Bill 63 was introduced by Georgia Republicans and mandates cash bail for about 30 additional offenses, including 18 misdemeanors such as trespassing and failure to appear. Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to curb gang-related violence and ensure repeat offenders remain in custody, especially in high-crime areas like Atlanta. However, critics, including the ACLU, contend that the measure is a politically motivated effort to increase incarceration at the expense of constitutional rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union states that the class-action lawsuit Coronell et al. v. Georgia argues Senate Bill 63 violates the Georgia Constitution’s Due Process Clause. The organization explains that the law denies defendants individualized bail hearings and imposes cash bail for lower-level offenses, creating a two-tiered system based on income. Plaintiffs represented by the ACLU and the Southern Center for Human Rights claim this policy will disproportionately affect low-income Georgians, trapping them in jail while wealthier defendants can secure release.
According to data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Georgia has seen significant increases in violent crime over recent years. From 2019 to 2022, murders rose by 66 percent, rapes by 61 percent, and aggravated assaults by 55 percent. Additionally, human trafficking cases have surged dramatically, with commercial sex trafficking increasing by 287 percent and involuntary servitude cases climbing by 333 percent. These statistics have fueled ongoing debates over whether stricter bail laws are warranted.
Founded in 1920, according to its official website, the American Civil Liberties Union is one of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organizations. The ACLU engages in litigation, advocacy, and public education efforts aimed at defending constitutional rights across various issues such as criminal justice reform, voting rights, free speech, and privacy. With affiliates across all 50 states, it remains a prominent national voice challenging government policies deemed unconstitutional.