Michigan Cues Up Bail Overhaul as Other States Eye Illinois Ban

Michigan is poised to become the next state to implement a cash bail overhaul, in an effort to address concerns about racial and economic disparities in a system that some say incentivizes less affluent defendants to plead guilty in order to secure their release.

State Rep. Stephanie A. Young (D) hopes to move forward in the coming year with a package of bills aimed at revising bail in Michigan, which were introduced in May.

But the changes won’t go as far as Illinois’ elimination of cash bail, which recently took effect after legal challenges that went up to the state ...