Ontario Strengthening Bail Requirements to Protect Communities

Table of Contents

1. Content
2. Quick Facts
3. Quotes
4. Additional Resources
5. Related Topics
6. Media Contacts

TORONTO - Effective August 17, 2026, the Ontario government is bringing into force new measures to strengthen the province's bail system and protect Ontario communities. As part of the government's comprehensive bail strategy and ongoing work to make bail more real and consequential for people accused of serious crimes, these new measures will improve bail compliance, keep violent, repeat offenders behind bars and make it easier for the province to collect forfeited bail payments when bail conditions are violated.

"For too long, gaps in the bail system have allowed violent and repeat offenders back into our communities," said Attorney General Doug Downey. "Enough is enough. People deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhoods and confident that those who pose a serious risk will not be released only to reoffend. That's why our government is taking bold, decisive action to deliver on our promise and fix the broken bail system, keep dangerous, repeat offenders off our streets, and put public safety first."

The new bail measures being implemented will:

• Require a cash security deposit in the full amount pledged to be paid once an accused person is released from custody, with payment due within two business days of release. This strengthens accountability by ensuring financial consequences are immediate when the court orders forfeiture of bail money as a penalty for a breach of bail conditions or when an accused person fails to attend court, making it easier for the province to recover bail debts.
• Require sureties to provide current contact and identification information. Keeping this information up to date will allow the province to collect forfeited bail money more effectively if no security deposit is on file. Failing to comply with these requirements may result in a provincial offence charge.
• Enhance collection tools for bail debts such as wage and bank account garnishment, property liens, and the seizure and sale of property. These stronger enforcement tools help ensure that court-ordered bail obligations are more easily enforceable and that those who fail to comply with bail conditions face meaningful consequences.

"Bail conditions are not suggestions, they are court orders, and there must be real consequences when they are broken," said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. "Our government is strengthening enforcement to hold offenders accountable, giving police and prosecutors stronger tools to protect our communities, and helping keep violent and repeat offenders behind bars where they belong."

Ontario is also working to strengthen digital tools to track repeat offenders and those who fail to comply with bail conditions. This includes the creation of a surety database to help streamline and enhance surety checks.

Taken together, these measures will make Ontario's bail system more accountable by strengthening compliance with court-ordered release conditions and will reinforce Ontario's commitment to protecting communities, ensuring there are real consequences for breaches of court-ordered release conditions.

Quick Facts

Quotes

"The changes coming into force will help make bail more effective by ensuring dangerous and repeat offenders face meaningful consequences and are held accountable. This is another important step forward in our ongoing work to improve bail compliance, protect victims and communities, and strengthen confidence in Ontario's justice system."

- Michael Tibollo
Associate Attorney General

"Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is deploying new measures to enhance bail compliance and accountability, granting stronger protections for families and communities across Ontario. Violent and repeat offenders will face real consequences, bail conditions will be enforced more effectively, and public safety will come first. Ontarians deserve neighbourhoods free from the threat of those who repeatedly breach the law-and these reforms deliver exactly that."

- Zee Hamid
Associate Solicitor General for Auto Theft and Bail Reform

"Criminals belong behind bars and not on our streets. We need to ensure repeat offenders cannot continue to exploit the bail system to reoffend and continue victimizing our residents. As Mayor of Vaughan, one of my top priorities is keeping our community safe. I want to thank Premier Doug Ford, Attorney General Doug Downey, Associate Solicitor General Zee Hamid and the provincial government for doing more to strengthen Ontario's bail system."

- Steven Del Duca
Mayor, City of Vaughan

"These enhancements to Ontario's bail system are welcome and reflect a continued commitment to improving public safety, strengthening accountability, and reducing the risks posed by repeat violent offenders. As police officers, we have consistently seen the impact that non-compliance with bail conditions and repeat offending has on victims, communities, and frontline officers. Strengthening bail compliance and accountability, while providing additional measures to address repeat violent crime, contributes to safer communities across the province."

- Thomas Carrique
Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police

"We have heard from our communities, and our members, loud and clear: the time for bail reform is overdue. We support any measures that strengthen the work our members do each day to address violent crime, hold offenders accountable, and most importantly, keep our communities safer."

- Paulo Da Silva
Chief, York Regional Police Service

"Our members across Ontario are seeing firsthand the impact repeat and violent offenders have on victims, families and communities. Far too many of these criminals are cycling through the justice system, while continuing to victimize communities. The Police Association of Ontario has consistently called for stronger accountability within the bail system, including cash bail and enhanced accountability measures for sureties. We welcome the government's action on these important measures. Bail conditions must be meaningful, enforceable, and carry real consequences when breached. These changes are an important step toward strengthening Ontario's bail system, supporting the work of our members, and most importantly, keeping our communities safe."

- Mark Baxter
President, Police Association of Ontario

Additional Resources

Related Topics