Recently our alums, Katrina Peters and Deborah Jordan spoke in an episode covering pretrial detainees. Reports over the worsening mental health of pretrial detainees in New York’s Rikers Island triggered the episode.. Problems for pretrial detainees and inmates throughout the country exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many inmates died during the pandemic lock downs, as states refused to put adequate safety measures in place. Institutions canceled visits from family members and lawyers. Social distancing is not possible in multi-occupant cells. And some inmates were held in solitary confinement. Inmate mental health can already be fragile. Throw in COVID restrictions on top of already difficulty conditions of confinement and you have a potentially explosive situation in the making. We are providing informational resources for pretrial detainee crisis.
The condition of pretrial detainees can be worse. People arrested can be held in detention prior to trial. Usually the detention is because the arrested don’t have resources to post bail. Over the past five years advocates engaged in a successful campaign, across the country, to eliminate cash money bail. The elimination of cash money bail would allow more people to gain release from detention pretrial. The programs to eliminate cash money bail were having success…until COVID. Now, more and more people under arrest are being help under high bails.
While our episode focuses on Rikers Island in New York and San Francisco California, inmates all over the country are facing the same problems. Take a look at some of the press on Rikers Island:
Deteriorating Conditions on Rikers Island
“They Are Throwing New Yorkers Into Cages on Rikers Island In Our Name”
Closing Rikers is Long Overdue
Crisis at Rikers Island: How Case Delays Are Locking Up More And More People For Years Without Trial
Amidst Chaos on Rikers, AOC and Maloney Call on DAs To Ease Up on Bail
Bail Reform Debate
The issue of bail reform is still controversial. Initially, prosecutors, the police and bail bondsmen opposed reform. Still, saw success across the country. Many people hoped the COVID pandemic would speed up reform. In some states did release more inmates and detainees, while others detained more. Any time a released person commits any offense opponents of bail reform blame the reforms for the new crime. Recently, a car crashed into a Christmas parade in Wisconsin. The driver is a person is who is currently on a low bail for a prior misdemeanor offense. Six people died when he drove into the parade. Now, conservatives are arguing he was able to kill the people because of the bail reforms. It is a silly argument. But, opponents of bail reform will use it to attack those reforms.
We hope you find these resources for pretrial detainee crisis helpful.