Ontario is preparing to overhaul its bail system by requiring accused individuals or their sureties to provide full cash security deposits before release, a move the provincial government says will help keep violent, repeat offenders off the streets and strengthen public safety.
The proposed legislation, announced Monday, represents one of the most significant changes to the province’s bail regime in years. It would eliminate the practice of releasing accused persons on a simple promise to pay—an approach the government argues has contributed to low compliance rates and created costly challenges in recovering forfeited bail.
“For too long, the broken bail system has allowed violent and repeat offenders back on our streets, putting innocent people at risk,” Attorney General Doug Downey said. “That’s why our government is taking action and delivering on our promise to fix the bail system by making bail more real and consequential for people accused of serious crimes. It’s the latest step in our work to keep our streets and communities safe.”
Under current rules, courts may authorize release on a pledge without requiring up-front money. Accused individuals and their sureties are only required to pay if bail terms are violated and a court orders forfeiture—a process the province says is resource-intensive and often difficult to enforce. The new system would require the full cash amount to be posted before release, with funds returned once a case concludes or a surety’s responsibilities end. If conditions are breached, the deposit would be automatically recovered following a forfeiture order.
The government says the changes are intended to “make bail real and consequential” and would be paired with measures to strengthen the collection of unpaid bail debts. Sureties would be required to keep their personal information up to date, and the province would expand its use of collection tools such as wage garnishment, property liens and asset seizure if necessary.
“By strengthening Ontario’s bail system, we’re taking decisive action to protect our communities from violent, repeat offenders,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Our government is backing that commitment with record investments to build new correctional facilities, expand capacity and ensure there is always space to keep dangerous criminal behind bars.”
A key component of the plan is the creation of a centralized surety database to help police and prosecutors track individuals overseeing accused persons. According to the province, some sureties have failed to report breaches or have taken responsibility for multiple accused individuals simultaneously—gaps officials argue have hindered enforcement.
The database would give police services access to information collected across jurisdictions and ensure prosecutors’ details are consistently available at bail hearings. Digital tools would also be expanded to monitor repeat offenders and those out of compliance with their conditions.
Ontario is also planning to expand dedicated bail prosecution teams, which work with police to prepare cases involving serious or violent offences. Since 2023, those teams have handled more than 4,100 such cases at the bail stage.
“Violent, repeat offenders continue to put our communities at risk, and that’s why we’re taking decisive action to stop it,” said Zee Hamid, Associate Solicitor General. “These new tools will give law enforcement and courts the resources they need to get tough on crime and Protect Ontario. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government will continue to push the federal government to do the right thing and enact meaningful bail and sentencing reform.”
The province says it is simultaneously investing in correctional infrastructure to ensure capacity is never a factor in detaining high-risk offenders. Those investments include reopening, repairing and retrofitting older facilities and adding permanent beds across the system.
Public safety advocates and police organizations offered strong endorsements for the government’s plan.
“Bail reform is about protecting families and our communities. For too long, repeat violent offenders have taken advantage of a system that was meant to uphold justice. That ends now. We are taking decisive action to keep dangerous individuals off our streets, to stand with victims, and to restore confidence in our justice system,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Attorney General.
Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw called the measures a step toward restoring public trust. “These additional measures announced today to improve bail compliance and keep repeat violent offenders in custody will make our communities safer, help restore public trust in the justice system and support police officers who see firsthand the harm caused to victims by violent criminals.”
Police Association of Ontario president Mark Baxter said the reforms underscore the importance of consequences within the bail system. “Our members strongly support these measures to strengthen the bail system, protect our communities, and keep dangerous offenders off our streets,” he said. “Stricter bail requirements and improved enforcement tools are essential to making bail meaningful and ensuring consequences for those who pose a threat to the communities we serve. These reforms reflect a real commitment to public safety and send a clear message that violent and repeat offenders will be held accountable.”
The government noted it has committed $112 million in recent years to strengthen Ontario’s bail system, including a three-year, $24-million grant program launched in 2024 to support bail compliance and warrant apprehension efforts.
