EBH has also helped reduce Philly’s prison population by over 1,000
PHILADELPHIA—One year after launching the Emergency Bail Hearing (EBH) initiative, the Defender Association of Philadelphia has helped more than 200 people safely return home while awaiting trial. Between October 7, 2024, and October 7, 2025, 230 people had their cases heard in Emergency Bail Hearings before Judge Karen Simmons. Of those, 216 people —93.9%— were ordered released.
“This is what happens when justice system partners work together toward a shared goal of fairness and safety,” said Chief Defender Keisha Hudson, “The Emergency Bail Hearing program has given hundreds of Philadelphians a chance to fight their cases from home, stay connected to their families, and access the services they need to improve their lives.”
The EBH initiative is a collaboration between the Defender Association, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP), the First Judicial District (FJD), and the District Attorney’s Office (DAO). The program was launched to respond to the urgent need to safely reduce the city’s jail population amid severe staffing shortages and unsafe conditions.
Since the EBH program began, Philadelphia’s jail population has dropped dramatically — from 4,700 in October 2024 to under 3,600 since April 2025. While the Emergency Bail Hearings are only one part of this progress, they demonstrate what’s possible when justice system partners coordinate effectively.
“This program is proof that dialog and cooperation between Philly’s justice system stakeholders works,” said Hudson, “Working together to identify people who can be safely released is just one way we can create a more just and sustainable system for everyone.”
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