4 decades. Judges had discretion to set bail. By law they were required to consider ability to pay. For 4 decades, they ignored the law. 87% couldn’t afford bail set. 89% on Rikers were Black or Latino.
A call to “just give judges discretion” is just a call to jail poor people.
A call to “just give judges discretion” is just a call to jail poor people.
I can’t tell you how many times an obviously destitute person has stood beside me. Facing the judge. And I’ve argued that *any* amount of bail-even $10-would lead to jail solely bc of their poverty. “Thank you counselor. Bail is set in the amount of $1000 insurance company bond.”
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve literally told the judge an actual amount of money a persons family *in court* could afford to pay, and they’ve then purposefully set bail in amount higher & out of reach.
Take action: Visit JusticeNotFear.org to learn the truth about commonsense bail reform in NY, call Democrat lawmakers to thank them & encourage them to stand firm against fear, & to report fearmongering lies by police, prosecutors, & their allies in the media.
