Money bail violates our Jewish values:
Our Jewish tradition calls on us to challenge the status quo when it is profoundly and profanely unjust.
The system of money bail in California is exactly that: profoundly and profanely unjust, especially for poor people and communities of color. And there’s a bill that would fix it that needs our support to pass.
The California Money Bail Reform Act of 2017 (SB 10) is a groundbreaking bill to reform our money bail system. It would make sure no one loses their freedom because they are too poor to pay bail. We know the cost can be losing their jobs, homes, custody of their children — even their lives, like Sandra Bland and Kalief Browder.
We can win bail reform in CA this year:
The California court of appeals is on our side: they just ruled that "A defendant may not be imprisoned solely due to poverty."
Now we're delivering our petition to the State Assembly at the end of the month to make money bail reform law in 2018 — add your name and help us reach 1,000 signatures.
Why money bail?
Money bail is an issue that sits at the intersection of mass incarceration, poverty, and the corporate greed of a multi-billion dollar bail bond industry.
In California, you are forced to pay money for pre-trial freedom. If you can't afford it, you must sit in jail. 63% of people incarcerated are sitting there waiting for their trials to begin. The alternative is taking a high-interest, short term loan for a bail bond fee that you still owe, even if you show up for court, and even if you're found innocent.
Now, as SB 10 moves through the State Assembly, we call on our Assembly Members and Governor Brown to support bail reform. As President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions advance their destructive national agenda, California must continue to lead the way in reforming our broken criminal justice system.
Will you sign the petition to Governor Brown and the State Assembly and spread the word?