Good day all,

For those who can donate cash, several U.S. states have bail funds for those who are awaiting criminal trials.

Why is this important? The U.S. incarcerates an astonishing number of people, mostly people of color, many for minor/nonviolent crimes. Those people often can't afford bail and are stuck behind bars, sometimes for months or years, until their trial. As a result, the presumption of their innocence by a jury can be affected adversely. The only difference between these people and those who go home on bail is a matter of what is a small sum of money to wealthier people.

So if you donate regularly, even a small sum a month can go a long way toward allowing these people to go home and await their trial. By donating you are working directly against the injustice of the carceral state, and decreasing the suffering of those who would otherwise be stuck behind bars indefinitely.

Here's a good primer from the Bail Project (Bronx, NYC) on why donating to bail funds helps people.

Here's my favorite bail fund.

Gassho,

Amy

SAT-lah