Done w/ night court. 8 of my clients saw the judge. 1 had family that could pull together $2k bail. Another $250 (just started a maintenance job). My last client’s wife had $50. The rest $0. The total bail amt set tonight on my clients was $56,500. All but one is now on Rikers.
Bail in NY is only supposed to be set in an amount necessary to ensure return to court. Not a single one of my clients needed any additional incentive to do so. The only thing that bail ensured will be their return in shackles. The judge knew this. I told him so. He didn’t care.
And it’s so much more than the loss of freedom & horrors of Rikers. Tonight it was 2 lost jobs (both started within last 4 months). 3 serious health conditions that will be left maltreated. 2 elderly mothers left without their sons. 1 wife left to take care of 4 children.
My last client of the night was welfare dependent. Bail set at $10k. His wife was in the audience with a cane. She was shaking. And she started crying hysterically when he was pushed into the back. I saw her on the way out. “You tried really hard. Don’t feel bad,” she told me.
Im exhausted. So many loved one’s tears. So much anxiety and confusion from clients. So much pain. My throat hurts from arguing all night with the prosecutor & judge. But I’m *going home.* To my bed. To my wife. To my child. To my safety & relative privilege. I am so lucky.
For all those feeling the injustice of cash bail, consider donating to bail funds. Visit this national directory: brooklynbailfund.org/nbfn-directory
