Crime Survivors Journal: The Bail Project Promises Freedom for All, Regardless of Public Safety

Patricia Wenskunas, founder of Crime Survivors, has published a new blog called the Crime Survivors Journal. The first article on this new site dedicated to protecting and ensuring the rights of crime victims, is a critical opinion piece from challenging The Bail Project, a nonprofit that has provided over $91 million in bail assistance since its founding (as per its 2024 annual report), helping more than 35,000 people secure pretrial release. The organization reports high court appearance rates (around 92-93%) and low rates of serious reoffending, arguing that pretrial freedom without cash bail benefits individuals and communities. Ms. Wenskunas strongly disputes these claims, viewing them as self-reported and biased, and asserts that releasing defendants without financial incentives or accountability defies common sense and personal experience, potentially endangering public safety.

The article also focuses on several high-profile cases where individuals bailed out by The Bail Project allegedly committed murders or severe violence after release. Examples include Donnie Allen (Cleveland, 2025), who was released despite family warnings and allegedly killed Benjamin McComas days later; Travis Lang (Indianapolis, 2021), who contributed to his release and later killed Dylan McGinnis; Samuel Lee Scott (St. Louis, 2019), who fatally beat his wife Marcia Johnson hours after bail was posted; and Marcus Garvin (Indianapolis, 2021), who murdered his girlfriend Christie Holt while on release with monitoring. These incidents, drawn from reports like a recent NY Post/Fox News article, highlight defendants with violent or concerning histories where family concerns or red flags were allegedly overlooked.

Ms. Wenskunas argues that even if such tragedies are "rare," they are unacceptable and preventable, prioritizing public safety and victims' rights over bail reform goals. The piece calls for greater accountability from organizations like The Bail Project, insisting that compassion for the accused should not compromise community protection or allow foreseeable harm to innocent people. An Excerpt from Ms. Wenskunas' article is below as well as a link to the full article.

The Bail Project: Committed to Making our Communities Less Safe One Victim at a Time
by Patricia Wenskunas

The Bail Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating cash bail, has invested over $91 million since its inception (as reported in their 2024 annual report) to help more than 35,000 individuals secure release while awaiting trial. They highlight high court appearance rates (around 92-93%) and argue...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE>>>