Cotton Introduces Legislation to End Bail for Repeat Violent Criminals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
September 11, 2025

Cotton Introduces Legislation to End Bail for Repeat Violent Criminals

Washington, DC - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the No Bail Post-Jail Act. This legislation denies bail for previously convicted violent felons upon arrest for a new felony offense.

"Years of soft on crime policies have allowed violent repeat criminals back on our streets endangering law abiding Arkansans. My bill ensures that violent repeat offenders won't be released on bail, keeping our communities safer," said Senator Cotton.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The No Bail Post-Jail Act would:

• Deny bail for any individual previously incarcerated for a violent felony upon arrest for a new felony offense.
• A violent felony includes murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and sexual assault.
• "Prior incarceration" is defined as serving any time in a state or federal correctional facility, including sentences as short as 30 days, but excludes pretrial detention without conviction.
• Applies to adults and juveniles tried as adults for the new offense.

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