‘Released to harm people’: Nashville Police Chief questions role of outside organizations posting defendant’s bail
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Nashville non-profit is pushing back after facing criticism for paying for community members to get out of jail.
The Nashville Community Bail Fund posts bail for people charged with a crime and are waiting for their trial.
On Monday, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake expressed frustration with defendants out on bond being rearrested.
“Never should it be a low bond where they can get back out and immediately start harming people again…Never should it be made by an organization where they don’t have to pay bond, but they’re released to harm people,” Drake said.
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Drake later specified he wanted there to be a more thorough vetting process for those posting bonds on the defendant’s behalf.
While speaking to reporters, Drake highlighted the case of 26-year-old Jamien Taylor.
After he was arrested for making sexual advances toward a woman in an elevator, the Community Bail Fund posted Taylor’s bond. A week later, Taylor was later charged with attempted kidnapping and assault.
“Money bail detention is only a problem for poor people. Jamien Taylor has multiple charges and arrests but has yet to have his cases heard in a court of law. His guilt has not been determined,” said the Community Bail Fund in a statement to News 2. “I would argue that people who re-offend often do so because they live in neighborhoods and areas that are highly policed. Not necessarily because they are more ‘criminal’ than anyone else.”
According to the non-profit’s website, they have posted bonds for 2,324 people since 2016.
“We post bail for community members to mitigate this harm, while we fight this unjust, racist, and classist money bail system,” the Nashville Community Bail Fund says on their website.
The debate over bail isn’t just happening at the county level and statewide.
Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom
Earlier this month, the GOP-controlled state legislature passed a bill no longer allowing magistrates to consider someone’s financial situation when setting bail.
“There is blood on the streets of Memphis today because they are letting people out who should have a bond and conditions, said state Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) on the House floor.
However, Democrats argued the legislation would discriminate against lower-income people.
“Our system of justice you are presumed innocent until found guilty in court,” said state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville). “And so you’re going to be keeping people in jail some of whom many of whom could be innocent and saying that because you’re poor you have to stay in jail.”
While that bill has been sent to the Governor’s desk, another bill stopping charitable bail organizations, like the Community Bail Fund, from posting bail for defendants, didn’t advance.
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The legislature also passed a bill to amend the state’s constitution to allow judges to deny bail for certain violent crimes.
If it passes again during next year’s legislative session, voters will get to weigh in November 2026.
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