DO SOMETHING: "Courts are places of congregation. It’s common for people called for hearings in courts w/ criminal or eviction dockets to sit on packed benches for hours. That makes the courthouse a potential vector for community spread of the virus." nytimes.com/2020/03/13/opi…
Short Jail Stays: "There are at least 450k people locked up at any time around the country for brief periods — the vast majority awaiting arraignment or bc they can’t make bail, often small amounts. Why put them at risk & introduce the possibility they will bring the virus home?"
Probation/Parole Violations: "Stop arresting & incarcerating people for technical (noncriminal) violations of parole & probation. 4.5 million people live under court supervision around the country. 25% of new admissions to state prisons, for infractions like missed curfew.:"
BAIL: "Jails & prisons, w/ crowded & sometimes dirty conditions, are known vessels of infection. The extra risk outweighs any benefit from setting bail for defendants accused of nonviolent crimes who can’t post it."
"The pandemic is an opportunity to rethink how the system treats low-level offenses, which comprise more than 60 percent of arrests nationally." Less arrests. Less unnecessary police/policed interactions. Less people charged. Less people jailed. Less unnecessary court dates.
