While most people are enjoying their turkey and pie hangovers today, I’m in court during the day today and night court tonight 5pm-1am. So though I was able to enjoy my Thanksgiving with my family yesterday, my thoughts were with my clients who spent their Thanksgiving on Rikers.
Many of whom are not guilty of a single crime and are there solely because they are poor and unable to pay bail to get them out while their case is pending. I am thankful for my amazing colleagues who work 365 days a year in that hellish place to bring humanity to them.
Watching misdemeanor trespass cases get arraigned tonight. Recommendation by the Manhattan DA’s office is 15 days jail. Judge says he would give 10. For being in a building in which they don’t live on a night where it was 19° out in NYC. Sickened by this. Is @CourtWatchNYC here?
No pleas taken. Bail was set at $1000 bond over $500 cash. It’s insane that broken windows policing continues and people spend time in jail for minor offenses such as these. #endbrokenwindowspolicing
We will never be able to #closerikers without the decriminalization of low level offenses, which are widely recognized to be crimes of poverty, such as: marijuana, drug residue, turnstile jumps, trespass, driving with a suspended license, etc.
The Manhattan DA’s office claims not to be prosecuting farebeat cases anymore, but instead they are charging people who jump turnstiles with trespassing. Outrageous. #endbrokenwindows
