Many issues that are primary drivers of mass incarceration cannot be remedied through government solutions alone. Issues such as broken families and mental health, both forever altered by over criminalization, cannot be simply be repaired through legislation. Civil Society has the unique capability to address certain social issues that government cannot, or to address them more effectively than government can. This section also addresses issues in which over-policing attempts to fix issues that should be handled through the community.
“New York City has a tremendous opportunity to reinvest in communities to help them thrive and to make them safer. To get there, we must expand the scope of this discussion and address the root causes of the social problems that we have tried and failed to address through mass incarceration, policing, and criminalization while stigmatizing generations of our fellow New Yorkers. “
Gotham Gazette
June 12, 2019
Read More“Since her release, Vernon, the Grant Park mother of two, has volunteered with the Atlanta chapter of Southerners on New Ground (SONG), a regional nonprofit that works on social justice and LGBTQ issues. For the past three years, the Atlanta SONG chapter has participated in the Black Mama’s Bail Out, an initiative that raises money to help secure the release of mothers and caregivers from jails. It’s part of a national collective of organizations working on ending cash bail.“
Atlanta Journal Constitution
May 9, 2019
Read More“Promise works with government agencies to support individuals being released from custody both pre-trial and post-conviction. Promise provides tools for the individuals being released, for the government workers interacting with those individuals, and for government leaders who need data to make better-informed decisions around incarceration and public safety.“
Forbes
March 18, 2019
Read More“Since its launch, Appolition has raised around $200,000 to bail more than 50 people out of jail across the U.S., according to founder and CEO Kortney Ziegler. Upon releasing the app in November 2017, his goal was to reach 200 donors in a month. Instead, he got 5,000.“
Money Magazine
January 23, 2019
Read More“On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Eagles posted $50,000 in bail ― $25,000 raised by the players and $25,000 matched by the team’s Eagles Social Justice Fund ― so that nine defendants in Philadelphia could spend Thanksgiving out of jail. The money went to the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, a local organization aimed at reforming the cash bailout system, which has been a major issue for Philadelphia city officials over the years.“
Huffington Post
November 28, 2018
Read More‘‘Community members and elected officials from throughout the state will tackle bail policies and jury selection practices in Connecticut at the upcoming eighth annual Community Prison Awareness and Prevention Gathering at Shiloh Baptist Church. The free event for adults and youths will take place from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Shiloh Family Life Center, 3 Garvin St.”
The Day
October 19, 2018
Read More"The Portland Bail Fund, created to pay bail for black defendants who otherwise couldn't afford it, has raised close to $30,000 since May. Part of that money has been used to bail out Virgil Adams, 20, who spent nearly a year and a half in the Multnomah County jail without being convicted of a crime."
The Oregonian
July 4, 2018
Read More"Being stuck in jail, even for a few days, can have a devastating effect on someone's ability to keep their job, pay rent, or care for their children. And it can be an incentive to just plead guilty — which will often result in immediate release."
The Oregonian
June 13, 2018
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