Sen. Bernie Sanders Bail has criminalized poverty and undermined the tenet of 'innocent

[Uncle Joe]

before proven guilty'

(snip)

And yet in 2016, more than 65 percent of the over 700,000 people in county or city jails on any given day in the United States were “unconvicted” — meaning that more than 400,000 people were in jail who had not been convicted of a crime, often because they lack the money to pay bail. In other words, we have criminalized poverty.

(snip)

In 2016, the average length of stay in jail for the entire jail population was 25 days, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. It might not sound like much, but the sad truth is that people who can’t afford bail, and who thus spend 3 or 4 weeks in jail awaiting trial, are likely to lose their jobs and their income, they won’t be able to pay their rent and may find themselves homeless, and they may even lose custody of their children — all because they don’t have enough money to buy their way out of jail.

(snip)

Ending the current cash bail system is not only the humane and just thing to do, it also makes more fiscal sense. According to the Pretrial Justice Institute, it costs about $75 per day to hold someone in jail, but only $7 per day to supervise that person in the community. When Yamhill County, Oregon, instituted a new program to call defendants with automatic reminders about their upcoming court dates, they originally budgeted $22,500 for the first year. The program wound up averaging a cost of just $550-$600 per month, and over a three-month span, only 2.7 percent of defendants failed to appear in court.

I introduced legislation this week called the “No Money Bail Act” to abolish the use of cash bail in federal courts and to help state and local governments implement alternatives to this broken and destructive system. My bill is similar to legislation that Congressman Ted Lieu introduced in the House. If passed, either would encourage states to abolish cash bail by providing new grant funding to help them implement a fairer and smarter alternative.

(snip)

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/bail-has-criminalized-poverty-undermined-tenet-innocent-proven-guilty-ncna895056

[WhiteTara]

1. That title was in need of quotation marks.

I know it's not your error, but it took me to read through to figure out what the headline meant. They (headline writers) get sloppier and sloppier every year.

[Uncle Joe]

2. I agree WhiteTara

[WhiteTara]

3. but it's good to see Bernie

actually put out legislation that will be beneficial. Ted Lieu is a powerhouse.

[Uncle Joe]

4. I agree on that as well.

Peace to you.

[murielm99]

5. This has been discussed here.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016211828

Once again, Bernie Sanders jumps on someone else's idea and tries to take credit for it as his own.

[Uncle Joe]

6. 1. I believe this to be a critical issue that disproportionately punishes the poor and minorities.

Last edited Fri Jul 27, 2018, 06:11 PM - Edit history (1)

2. I don't believe important issues should be limited to one thread.

3. It's not a contest about who comes up with a good idea first, it's about action.

4. Nothing prevents you or anyone else from posting about any other political leader putting forth any bill.

5. Bernie's article which I posted even mentions another political leader in the House, that being Congressman Ted Lieu with a similar bill.

6.. I amazed you have the gall to criticize Bernie for putting forth such a much needed and moral bill!? What if Bernie saved a puppy from drowning would you criticize him for jumping on somebody else's idea because other people have already done it?

[JI7]

7. why is sanders trying to defeat rep clay who supported ted lieu's bill ?

[Uncle Joe]

8. A little more info please. n/t