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11 US jurisdictions pledge to slash jail population in exchange for funding 11 US jurisdictions pledge to slash jail population in exchange for funding
(about 13 hours later)
New York, St Louis and New Orleans are among 11 jurisdictions pledging to slash their jail populations by as much as a third, in exchange for grant funding aimed at curbing mass incarceration.New York, St Louis and New Orleans are among 11 jurisdictions pledging to slash their jail populations by as much as a third, in exchange for grant funding aimed at curbing mass incarceration.
The Safety and Justice Challenge selected the cities to receive between $1.5 and $3.5 million each towards diversion programs, training and other interventions meant to curb over-reliance on pretrial incarceration. The initiative, if successful, would cut thousands from the jail rolls of the participating cities and jurisdictions. The Safety and Justice Challenge selected the cities to receive between $1.5m and $3.5m each towards diversion programs, training and other interventions meant to curb overreliance on pre-trial incarceration. The initiative, if successful, would cut thousands from the jail rolls of the participating cities and jurisdictions.
The US jail population has more than tripled since the 1980s, mirroring the attendant increase in prison population, although public attention on the phenomenon of mass incarceration has largely overlooked jails in favor of prisons. Both disproportionately affect black Americans and Latinos, who make up 51% of the jail population, 58% of the prison population and roughly 30% of the general population.The US jail population has more than tripled since the 1980s, mirroring the attendant increase in prison population, although public attention on the phenomenon of mass incarceration has largely overlooked jails in favor of prisons. Both disproportionately affect black Americans and Latinos, who make up 51% of the jail population, 58% of the prison population and roughly 30% of the general population.
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“The way we misuse and overuse jails in this country takes an enormous toll on our social fabric and undermines the credibility of government action, with particularly dire consequences for communities of color,” said Julia Stasch, the president of the MacArthur Foundation, which is funding the program. “The thoughtful plans and demonstrable political will give us confidence that these jurisdictions will show that change is possible in even the most intractable justice-related challenges in cities, counties, and states across the country.” “The way we misuse and overuse jails in this country takes an enormous toll on our social fabric and undermines the credibility of government action, with particularly dire consequences for communities of color,” said Julia Stasch, the president of the MacArthur Foundation, which is funding the program. “The thoughtful plans and demonstrable political will give us confidence that these jurisdictions will show that change is possible in even the most intractable justice-related challenges in cities, counties and states across the country.”
Laurie Garduque, director of Justice Reform at the MacArthur Foundation, said that more scrutiny of jails is the missing link between an increased focus on policing and prisons in recent years.Laurie Garduque, director of Justice Reform at the MacArthur Foundation, said that more scrutiny of jails is the missing link between an increased focus on policing and prisons in recent years.
“While the attention that’s been given to police-community relations is warranted, many of those encounters stem from someone being arrested, someone being taken to jail, or someone being concerned about being taken to jail,” Garduque said, noting the killing of Walter Scott in Charleston, South Carolina in April 2015. Scott attempted to flee an officer during a traffic stop, possibly because he was facing a bench warrant for unpaid child support, and was shot by officer Michael Slager as he ran away. As one of the grantees, Charleston plans to reduce the use of criminal bench warrants, and provide an alternative to jail for people with mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness issues. “While the attention that’s been given to police-community relations is warranted, many of those encounters stem from someone being arrested, someone being taken to jail, or someone being concerned about being taken to jail,” Garduque said, noting the killing of Walter Scott in Charleston, South Carolina, in April 2015. Scott attempted to flee an officer during a traffic stop, possibly because he was facing a bench warrant for unpaid child support, and was shot by officer Michael Slager as he ran away. As one of the grantees, Charleston plans to reduce the use of criminal bench warrants, and provide an alternative to jail for people with mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness issues.
Nationwide there are nearly 12 million jail admissions every year, which dwarfs the US prison population. Nearly 75% of those admitted are in jail for nonviolent traffic, property or drug crimes. Nationwide there are nearly 12m jail admissions every year, which dwarfs the US prison population. Nearly 75% of those admitted are in jail for non-violent traffic, property or drug crimes.
Jails have become instead warehouses for low income people and have a disproportionate impact on people of color Jails have become instead warehouses for low-income people and have a disproportionate impact on people of color
Because very few crimes come with the condition that suspects be held without bail, jails are filled overwhelmingly not with particularly dangerous inmates, but impoverished ones who cannot afford to pay bail. This disproportionally affects black americans, as they are twice as likely to not be able to make bail as white ones. Because very few crimes come with the condition that suspects be held without bail, jails are filled overwhelmingly not with particularly dangerous inmates, but impoverished ones who cannot afford to pay bail. This disproportionally affects black Americans, as they are twice as likely to not be able to make bail as white ones.
A recent Zogby poll shows that nearly three quarters of Americans believe risk to public safety should be the main factor determining release for people awaiting trial, not their ability to pay bail or other fees. A recent Zogby poll shows that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe risk to public safety should be the main factor determining release for people awaiting trial, not their ability to pay bail or other fees.
The exact form of the proposals by the 11 grant winners varies from locale to locale, but all commit to a reduction of between 15 and 34% of the jail population and emphasize community engagement and collaboration with local law enforcement, corrections officials, prosecutors, defenders, judges, and other stakeholders. The exact form of the proposals by the 11 grant winners varies from locale to locale, but all commit to a reduction of between 15 and 34% of the jail population and emphasize community engagement and collaboration with local law enforcement, corrections officials, prosecutors, defenders, judges and other stakeholders.
In New Orleans, the jail problem is particularly acute, as the city currently faces a public defender crisis, where a surplus of offenders and a lack of resources has left thousands without adequate or timely legal representation. Last week, a judge citing the sixth and 14th amendments, ordered the release of seven jail prisoners due to their lack of adequate council.In New Orleans, the jail problem is particularly acute, as the city currently faces a public defender crisis, where a surplus of offenders and a lack of resources has left thousands without adequate or timely legal representation. Last week, a judge citing the sixth and 14th amendments, ordered the release of seven jail prisoners due to their lack of adequate council.
New Orleans’ proposed plan for reform includes expanding the use of summons in lieu of arrests and instituting a variety of measures to increase pretrial release, including protocols based on the risk of a suspect reoffending. New Orleans’s proposed plan for reform includes expanding the use of summons in lieu of arrests and instituting a variety of measures to increase pre-trial release, including protocols based on the risk of a suspect reoffending.
In New York, where Rikers Island has been the subject of a series of horrific exposes and calls for jail reform, the city plans to develop a stability score assessment to measure the impact a stay in jail would have on poor defendants. This would give judges the opportunity to consider the effect on a defendant’s job or family responsibilities before setting a high bail amount. In New York, where Rikers Island has been the subject of a series of horrific exposés and calls for jail reform, the city plans to develop a stability score assessment to measure the impact a stay in jail would have on poor defendants. This would give judges the opportunity to consider the effect on a defendant’s job or family responsibilities before setting a high bail amount.
Related: Rikers inquiry finds 'shockingly inadequate screening' for prison guardsRelated: Rikers inquiry finds 'shockingly inadequate screening' for prison guards
In St Louis, in the wake of the Ferguson protests it became clear that many of the county’s municipalities were engaged in a practice of boosting municipal revenues by the heavy-handed application of statutory fees in the court system – a system underwritten by the prospect of jail. The proposal there will, in part, utilize something as simple as a text reminder system to push down jail numbers.In St Louis, in the wake of the Ferguson protests it became clear that many of the county’s municipalities were engaged in a practice of boosting municipal revenues by the heavy-handed application of statutory fees in the court system – a system underwritten by the prospect of jail. The proposal there will, in part, utilize something as simple as a text reminder system to push down jail numbers.
“There’s about 10,00 failure-to-appear warrants a year in St Louis County, and a lot of people are failing to appear because they aren’t sure where or when or they have conflicts. Or they are failing to appear because they don’t have money,” said Beth Huebner, a criminologist at the University of Missouri who is helping coordinate the grant for the county. The reminder system will let defendants know that community service is available as an alternative to fees.“There’s about 10,00 failure-to-appear warrants a year in St Louis County, and a lot of people are failing to appear because they aren’t sure where or when or they have conflicts. Or they are failing to appear because they don’t have money,” said Beth Huebner, a criminologist at the University of Missouri who is helping coordinate the grant for the county. The reminder system will let defendants know that community service is available as an alternative to fees.
“Jails are supposed to be sites to hold people who present a risk, and have become instead warehouses for low income people and have a disproportionate impact on people of color,” Garduque said. “What we think will be accomplished is not only fewer people going to jail and staying shorter periods of time if they need to go to jail, but a more fair, effective and equitable system that will actually improve public safety.” “Jails are supposed to be sites to hold people who present a risk, and have become instead warehouses for low-income people and have a disproportionate impact on people of color,” Garduque said. “What we think will be accomplished is not only fewer people going to jail and staying shorter periods of time if they need to go to jail, but a more fair, effective and equitable system that will actually improve public safety.”
The full recipients are:The full recipients are: