Thanks to the ACLU-PA, we know Lancaster has a bail problem. In 2016-2017, the average cash bail amount was $56,862 and 64.7% of the cases in which cash bail was set -  bail was not posted. 

There. Is. A. Problem. 

In 2021, 69% of the people incarcerated at the Lancaster County Prison were being held pretrial so as Lancaster County moves forward in the building of a new prison, we have an obligation to examine our current system and ask whether we could build a smaller, new prison, saving Lancaster taxpayers' money. 

We believe that there are four things that would allow positive and impactful changes to the current system. These are: 

1. Individuals who are having their bail set or changed have representation.

2. Magisterial district judges setting cash bail state in writing why no less restrictive alternative was ordered and list considerations related to the financial ability of the person to guarantee the bail amount is not excessive.  

3. The county reconvene a commitment review panel, first used in 2013, to review new jail commitments weekly.

4. The county order a data-driven analysis geared towards understanding who is incarcerated pre-trial, why, and for how long so that we can address our problem(s).

There is a problem in Lancaster - let's fix it!!

This petition is co-sponsored by POWER Interfaith Lancaster County.