NO Cash Bail / MISDEMEANORS
Most people in jail in the United States are there because they can’t afford bail. This starting point serves no public safety purpose, effectively punishes people for being poor, and pressures them to plead guilty. It costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year, enriching the bail bond industry. (1)
Individuals that are charged with crimes spend extensive amounts of time in jail BEFORE they are tried. Over half of the individuals incarcerated in the Norfolk City Jail are awaiting trial and are Presumed to be Innocent.
This Vision for a True NO Cash Bail System is Truly Long Overdue
Picture Courtesy of Aita Law, PLLC.
(1) Fair and Just Prosecutions, 21 Principles for the 21st Century Prosecutor; Alliance for Safety and Justice, “Crime Survivors Speak,” https://allianceforsafetyandjustice.org/wp-content/ uploads/documents/Crime%20Survivors%20Speak%20Report.pdf