Researchers look at the bail industry as ‘predation opportunity structures’ that rely upon the needs and hopes of vulnerable people to create revenue. In A Debt of Care, researchers note that while men of color are disproportionately targeted for arrest and incarceration, women of color shoulder a disproportionate financial burden because bail bond agents see them as primarily responsible for caregiving and emotional bonds.
Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans released a report on the effects of pretrial reforms the county implemented in 2017. Over the course of a 15-month period, the Cook County Jail population dropped by more than 1,600 and the average bond amount fell from $5,000 to $1,000. 2018 also saw an 8% decrease of violent crime and nearly 90% of those released had not been charged with a new crime.
Too often, jurisdictions view the only way to combat jail overcrowding is by building a bigger jail. Prison Policy Initiative’s latest report guides city and county decision-makers when deciding whether or not to build a new jail. Does our county really need a bigger jail?helps identify leading causes of jail overcrowding and whether policies can be implemented to decrease the jail’s population before deciding building a new jail is necessary.
PJI’s toolkit on communications and community engagement empowers readers to become part of the conversation around pretrial justice in the U.S. The toolkit represents an evolution in PJI’s thought process to keep pace with the fast-moving changes in the overall discussion of mass incarceration and the role of pretrial justice.
In her role as a community manager, Toni Shoola focuses on community engagement and provides technical assistance and training to entities around the country on implementing evidence-based pretrial practices.
Tiffany Solomon joins the Pretrial Justice Institute team as the Mission Support specialist. Working at PJI allows her to fulfill her wish of being a part of an organization influencing change and helping those in need.
