Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz on Wednesday announced that the city could save $75 million every year by eliminating cash bail for low-level offenders, freeing up funds that would be spent on incarcerating the poor.
In a report released by the Controller’s Office, Butkovitz said cutting cash bail would reduce the prison population from more than 6,500 to less than 4,700. By doing that, the city could close the House of Corrections and the Detention Center, saving the $75 million annually minus the potential cash bail payments.
