Excessive Bail Prohibition: Current Doctrine

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

The Court first tested and upheld under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment a state statute providing for preventive detention of juveniles.1 Footnote
Schall v. Martin, 467 U.S. 253 (1984) . Then, in United States v. Salerno ,2 Footnote
481 U.S. 739 (1987) . the Court upheld application of preventive detention provisions of the Bail Reform Act of 1984 against facial challenge under the Eighth Amendment. The function of bail, the Court explained, is limited neither to preventing flight of the defendant prior to trial nor to safeguarding a court’s role in adjudicating guilt or innocence. “[W]e reject the proposition that the Eighth Amendment categorically prohibits the government from pursuing other admittedly compelling interests through regulation of pretrial release.” 3 Footnote
481 U.S. at 753 . Instead, “[t]he only arguable substantive limitation of the Bail Clause is that the government’s proposed conditions of release or detention not be ‘excessive’ in light of the perceived evil.” 4 Footnote
481 U.S. at 754 . “[D]etention prior to trial of arrestees charged with serious felonies who are found after an adversary hearing to pose a threat to the safety of individuals or to the community which no condition of release can dispel” satisfies this requirement.5 Footnote
481 U.S. at 755 . The Court also ruled that there was no violation of due process, the governmental objective being legitimate and there being a number of procedural safeguards (detention applies only to serious crimes, the arrestee is entitled to a prompt hearing, the length of detention is limited, and detainees must be housed apart from criminals).

Bail is “excessive” in violation of the Eighth Amendment when it is set at a figure higher than an amount reasonably calculated to ensure the asserted governmental interest.6 Footnote
Stack v. Boyle, 342 U.S. 1, 4–6 (1951) . If the only asserted interest is to guarantee that the accused will stand trial and submit to sentence if found guilty, then “bail must be set by a court at a sum designed to ensure that goal, and no more.” 7 Footnote
Salerno , 481 U.S. at 754 . To challenge bail as excessive, one must move for a reduction, and, if that motion is denied, appeal to the Court of Appeals, and, if unsuccessful, appeal to the Supreme Court Justice sitting for that circuit.8 Footnote
Boyle , 342 U.S. at 6–7 . The Amendment is apparently inapplicable to postconviction release pending appeal, but the practice has apparently been to grant such releases.9 Footnote
Hudson v. Parker, 156 U.S. 277 (1895) .

Footnotes 1 Schall v. Martin, 467 U.S. 253 (1984) . 2 481 U.S. 739 (1987) . 3 481 U.S. at 753 . 4 481 U.S. at 754 . 5 481 U.S. at 755 . The Court also ruled that there was no violation of due process, the governmental objective being legitimate and there being a number of procedural safeguards (detention applies only to serious crimes, the arrestee is entitled to a prompt hearing, the length of detention is limited, and detainees must be housed apart from criminals). 6 Stack v. Boyle, 342 U.S. 1, 4–6 (1951) . 7 Salerno , 481 U.S. at 754 . 8 Boyle , 342 U.S. at 6–7 . 9 Hudson v. Parker, 156 U.S. 277 (1895) .

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