TED Talks Daily How The Bail Project is reforming criminal justice in the US | Robin Steinberg and Manoush Zomorodi
May 12, 2020
Robin Steinberg, a public defender and activist, founded The Bail Project to address the injustices of cash bail that keep nearly half a million people incarcerated without conviction. In her engaging conversation with Manoush Zomorodi, they discuss the revolutionary revolving bail fund model and its impact across the U.S. Steinberg highlights the urgent need for community-based reform initiatives, adapting solutions to local contexts, and fostering a support system that prioritizes care over punishment. It's a fascinating exploration of justice reform in action!
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The Bail Project's Origin
- Robin Steinberg, a public defender, and her husband discussed reforming the bail system over Chinese takeout.
- This led to the idea for The Bail Project, a revolving bail fund to help those who can't afford bail.
Impact of Pretrial Detention
- Being jailed pretrial, even briefly, can have devastating consequences.
- These include job loss, family separation, and housing instability, as well as trauma and violence within jail.
Community Release Model
- The Bail Project aims to prove a community-based release model can work without cash bail.
- This involves court notifications and support services to ensure people return to court.