The Price of Freedom: Bail in Sedgwick County

In this report, we examine how monetary bail in Sedgwick County, Kansas, disproportionately punishes poverty, deepens inequality, and challenges the promise of justice. Using data from 2023–2024, we explore who is being held, why they’re being held, how long they remain in jail, and what it costs them and the community. This report reveals how a system built on presumed innocence often delivers punishment before trial—especially to the poor, women, and communities of color—and outlines why reform is both urgent and achievable.