California’s bail system punishes the poor, and it’s time for the government to do something about it

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Harmeet Dhillon

Harmeet K. Dhillon founded Dhillon Law Group in 2006. After many years serving as our Managing Partner, she departed the firm in 2025 to serve as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice.

It’s a recurring nightmare: You get busted, perhaps for drunk driving and causing an injury accident, or maybe on a bum rap. You’re jailed and can’t make bail.

You’re shoved behind bars with a scummy cellmate. You can’t go to work. Bills go unpaid. And you don’t have any mobility to plan your defense.

You’re locked up solely because you don’t have enough money to arrange bail.

But some wealthy guy — booked on a more serious charge than you — waltzes out onto the street the next day after writing a check and posting bail.

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Harmeet Dhillon

Harmeet K. Dhillon founded Dhillon Law Group in 2006. After many years serving as our Managing Partner, she departed the firm in 2025 to serve as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice.