Three out of 5 people in U.S. jails today have not been convicted of a crime. This amounts to nearly half a million people sitting in jails each day, despite the fact that they are legally innocent of the crime with which they have been charged.
You might ask why.
- Tap “Join” above.
- Most jurisdictions in the country operate a cash bail system, in which the court determines an amount of money that a person has to pay in order to secure their release from detention.
In effect, the cash bail system criminalizes poverty, as people who are unable to afford bail are detained while they await trial for weeks or even months.
SO, WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Cash bail perpetuates inequities in the justice system that are disproportionately felt by communities of color and those experiencing poverty.
The Bail Project is an organization on a five-year plan to scale their model across America and turn the tide on mass incarceration. Learn more about their plans at https://bailproject.org
- When you tap “Complete” below, you help to raise awareness and to inspire others to get involved.
Stay tuned for Part 2 for ways to make an impact beyond raising awareness.
Source: American Progress
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