City Bail System Punishes the Poor, Report Finds

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Gotham Gazette - http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/law/20101204/13/3423 City Bail System Punishes the Poor, Report Finds by Emily Jane Goodman 04 Dec 2010 Photo by Mike Phillipens Human Rights Watch, known internationally for fighting degradation and institutional suffering among the people of Africa, Indonesia, Latin America and other developing areas of the world, has turned its sights to New York City. The organization has issued a report -- to be made public today -- on bail and arraignment practices in our Criminal Courts. Following a two-year study, the report concludes that bail results in the incarceration of poor people, almost all of whom are black or Hispanic and are charged with non-violent crimes. Human Rights Watch has found that every year the bail system in New York City penalizes thousands of poor people with pre-trial detention when they are arrested and charged with minor crimes. In these instances, the judges often require a fairly small amount of bail money. But that often is still more than the individuals and families involved can afford. (Bail is intended to insure that defendants return to court for trial after their arrest or risk losing the money they have posted.) Read more at www.gothamgazette.com

 

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