In many cities and states, money often decides who stays in jail and who gets out.
- Shidonna Raven
- Mar 5
- 1 min read
By Drew Kann
April 21, 2019
Source: CNN
Photo / Image Source: Unsplash,
In many cities and states, money often decides who stays in jail and who gets out.
She's in jail for 6 months over $545
The BJS reports that in 2016, nearly two-thirds of all inmates in local jails were not convicted.
So why were they behind bars?
Many who are arrested and go to jail are able to get out quickly by simply posting bail. But those who can’t afford it are essentially trapped – they either sit in jail until the court takes action, or work with a bail bond agent to secure their freedom (with the latter option often saddling them with debt).
Advocates will quickly point out how this system puts the poor at a huge disadvantage. Stuck in jail because they can’t afford to pay bail, inmates are unable to work or support their families, making them particularly susceptible to the spiral of debt and incarceration.
The bail bond business, as with others tied to the criminal justice system, is extremely lucrative, bringing in more than $2 billion in profit each year, according to a 2017 report by nonprofit civil rights advocacy group Color of Change and the ACLU’s Campaign for Smart Justice.
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