The Bail Project reports it has provided $91 million in free bail assistance to more than 35,000 people and says clients appear in court at a 92% rate. A small number of cases in which individuals freed after the group posted bail were later accused or convicted of murder — including incidents in Cleveland, Indianapolis and St. Louis — have prompted scrutiny. The organization condemns violence and emphasizes that serious rearrests are uncommon across all types of pretrial release. These incidents have intensified debate over bail reform, risk assessment and public safety.
The Bail Project Posted $91M In Bail — A Small Number Of Clients Later Accused Or Convicted Of Murder
Donnie Allen was accused of killing a 27-year-old.
The Bail Project says it has provided more than $91 million in free bail assistance to help people remain with their families while awaiting trial. While the organization and its supporters note strong court-appearance rates among clients, several high-profile cases in which individuals freed with the group's help were later accused or convicted of murder have drawn scrutiny and renewed debate about pretrial release and public safety.
Notable Cases
Donnie Allen (Cleveland)
Police say Donnie Allen allegedly killed 27-year-old Benjamin McComas at a Cleveland rail station on Dec. 14. Allen had been arrested earlier in December on separate charges tied to a Dec. 4 incident at the same station, including drug possession, breaking and entering and obstructing official business. A judge reduced his bond from $15,000 to $5,000, and The Bail Project contributed $500 toward his release from Cuyahoga County Jail. Five days after his release, Allen was arrested in connection with McComas's death.
Family members told Fox News Digital they warned The Bail Project that Allen should not be released and said the group did not act on their concerns. Allen has an extensive criminal history dating back at least to 2019. His attorney has characterized the Dec. 14 death as "far from" an intentional homicide; the case remains under criminal process.
Travis Lang
Travis Lang was arrested in December 2020 on a cocaine-possession charge and several related felonies. The Bail Project contributed $5,650 toward his bail and he was released in January 2021. On Oct. 1, 2021, Dylan McGinnis, 24, was shot and killed; prosecutors charged Lang with murder, and he was convicted in 2023. Family members have described McGinnis as trying to help a friend when he was killed.
Samuel Lee Scott (St. Louis)
Samuel Lee Scott was arrested in April 2019 on a misdemeanor domestic-assault charge after allegedly striking his wife, Marcia Johnson, and threatening further violence. The Bail Project posted his $5,000 bail on April 9. Hours after his release, Johnson was found critically injured and later died of her injuries. Scott was charged with first-degree murder, convicted in 2022 and sentenced to life without parole. The Bail Project said it was "deeply saddened" by the tragedy and urged attention to broader systemic issues.
Marcus Garvin (Indianapolis)
Marcus Garvin was arrested after an alleged stabbing at an Indianapolis convenience store in December 2020. His bond was reduced from $30,000 to $1,500 and a judge ordered GPS monitoring; The Bail Project paid the $1,500 bond. On July 24, 2021, Garvin stabbed and killed 30-year-old Christie Holt at a motel and later attempted to dismember her body. He pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Response From The Bail Project And Context
The Bail Project issued a statement condemning violence and expressing deep concern in cases involving its clients. The organization noted that such incidents are rare among its client population: it reports assisting more than 35,000 people with a 92% court appearance rate. In public comments, Executive Director Robin Steinberg said tragedies like Marcia Johnson's death are heartbreaking but argued the group should not be singled out, noting that people wealthy enough to post commercial bonds would also have been free pretrial.
"Cases like these are extremely rare," the organization said. "When they do happen, they’re seen across every type of release — whether someone is bailed out by a bondsman, released on their own recognizance, or supported by a charitable bail fund."
Why This Matters
These cases have become focal points in debates over pretrial release, bail reform and public safety. Advocates for pretrial reform point to the high appearance rates and to socioeconomic and racial disparities in the bail system, while critics cite the violent incidents as reasons to reassess release policies and screening procedures. Family members of victims and some lawmakers argue for more stringent risk assessments and better communication between communities and organizations that post bail.
As the criminal justice debate continues, stakeholders on all sides say the challenge is to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention while protecting public safety and supporting victims' families.
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