<p>Cash bail has traditionally been used in the United States to prevent defendants from failing to appear in court and from committing additional crimes prior to their hearing. Yet, the inability to afford cash bail has contributed to the expansion of the jail and prison population in the United States. Meanwhile, activists continue to question the efficacy of cash bail to achieve the goals of reducing failure to appear and re-arrest rates. Activists also have suggested that cash bail may negatively impact the health and well-being of defendants and may disproportionately affect individuals based on their race, ethnicity, and gender. The present study synthesized recent empirical literature on cash bail to help determine the effects of cash bail. Results indicate cash bail is mostly ineffective at reducing failure to appear and re-arrest rates. Based on results from the included studies, cash bail also has harsher consequences for Black, Hispanic, and male defendants than White and female defendants. Further, early evidence suggests cash bail negatively harms the health and well-being of defendants. Implications for the future of cash bail and possible alternatives are discussed.</p>