When judges set bail on my clients’ cases as low as $500, 87% of them cannot afford to pay it. That’s for offenses like trespassing & petit larceny.
It costs NYC, $475 a night to detain someone on Rikers’ Island.
You do the math.
psmag.com/economics/our-… via @pacificstand
It costs NYC, $475 a night to detain someone on Rikers’ Island.
You do the math.
psmag.com/economics/our-… via @pacificstand
When I started as a public defender, I thought judges set bail at $500 honestly - if mistakenly - believing that it was a token amount most people could pay.
Then I smartened up. Judges know exactly what we do: that $500 bail will hold poor people in jail & coerce pleas.
Then I smartened up. Judges know exactly what we do: that $500 bail will hold poor people in jail & coerce pleas.
Until NYC and other cities do something about cash bail, please donate to bail funds across the country like @BKBailFund. $500 will buy a person’a freedom. A donation of $5 from 100 people gets us to $500.
Here’s the link to donate to @BKBailFund. brooklynbailfund.org/donate/
And people, please see @prisonculture’s #FreeThePeopleDay tweet (above). If you donate to a community bail fund TOMORROW (NYE) your donation will be matched!!!
@BKBailFund is participating and @prisonculture’s tweet includes a list of funds across the county also participating.
@BKBailFund is participating and @prisonculture’s tweet includes a list of funds across the county also participating.
So it makes sense to donate tomorrow.
(Unless you’re the sort of person who just saw this tweet, was inspired in the moment & knows you are going to completely forget about it tomorrow, then you should donate today.)
(Unless you’re the sort of person who just saw this tweet, was inspired in the moment & knows you are going to completely forget about it tomorrow, then you should donate today.)
