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Detroit cash bail reforms to strike at racial inequality

Former U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder, who is senior counsel at Covington & Burling, addresses the media, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. Holder commended Detroit's 36th District Court for reaching an agreement on bail reforms. "This is how our criminal justice system should work," he said. "It can, and should be, a model for other jurisdictions across the country." The settlement stipulates that judges in the state's 36th District Court identify a specific reason why cash bail is needed and that judges assume defendants are unable to pay even small bail amounts if they live in poverty. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Michigan 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico, addresses the media, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. McConico is at the center of brokering a settlement in a class action lawsuit over the use of cash bail in Detroit. Advocates say the agreement is a win for racial justice in the criminal justice system, and could be modeled across Michigan and in states nationwide. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Starmanie Jackson holds her child, Gabriella, during a news conference Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. At the time of her incarceration in April 2019, Jackson, an impoverished single mother of 2- and 4-year-old children, had her bail set at $700 over outstanding traffic tickets and a charge alleging domestic violence. Because she could not afford to pay, Jackson, who had never been arrested before, was separated from her children for the first time in their lives. Michigan's largest district court and bail reform advocates announced the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against bail practices in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Former U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder, who is senior counsel at Covington & Burling, addresses the media, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. Holder commended Detroit's 36th District Court for reaching an agreement on bail reforms. "This is how our criminal justice system should work," he said. "It can, and should be, a model for other jurisdictions across the country." The settlement stipulates that judges in the state's 36th District Court identify a specific reason why cash bail is needed and that judges assume defendants are unable to pay even small bail amounts if they live in poverty. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Michigan 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico, addresses the media, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. McConico is at the center of brokering a settlement in a class action lawsuit over the use of cash bail in Detroit. Advocates say the agreement is a win for racial justice in the criminal justice system, and could be modeled across Michigan and in states nationwide. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Starmanie Jackson holds her child, Gabriella, during a news conference Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. At the time of her incarceration in April 2019, Jackson, an impoverished single mother of 2- and 4-year-old children, had her bail set at $700 over outstanding traffic tickets and a charge alleging domestic violence. Because she could not afford to pay, Jackson, who had never been arrested before, was separated from her children for the first time in their lives. Michigan's largest district court and bail reform advocates announced the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against bail practices in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Starmanie Jackson holds her child, Gabriella, during a news conference Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. At the time of her incarceration in April 2019, Jackson, an impoverished single mother of 2- and 4-year-old children, had her bail set at $700 over outstanding traffic tickets and a charge alleging domestic violence. Because she could not afford to pay, Jackson, who had never been arrested before, was separated from her children for the first time in their lives. Michigan's largest district court and bail reform advocates announced the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against bail practices in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Former U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder, who is senior counsel at Covington & Burling, addresses the media, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. Holder commended Detroit's 36th District Court for reaching an agreement on bail reforms. "This is how our criminal justice system should work," he said. "It can, and should be, a model for other jurisdictions across the country." The settlement stipulates that judges in the state's 36th District Court identify a specific reason why cash bail is needed and that judges assume defendants are unable to pay even small bail amounts if they live in poverty. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Michigan 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico, addresses the media, Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. McConico is at the center of brokering a settlement in a class action lawsuit over the use of cash bail in Detroit. Advocates say the agreement is a win for racial justice in the criminal justice system, and could be modeled across Michigan and in states nationwide. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Starmanie Jackson holds her child, Gabriella, during a news conference Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Detroit. At the time of her incarceration in April 2019, Jackson, an impoverished single mother of 2- and 4-year-old children, had her bail set at $700 over outstanding traffic tickets and a charge alleging domestic violence. Because she could not afford to pay, Jackson, who had never been arrested before, was separated from her children for the first time in their lives. Michigan's largest district court and bail reform advocates announced the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against bail practices in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Michigan's 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico is photographed in his office, Thursday, July 7, 2022, in Detroit. McConico is at the center of brokering a settlement in a class action lawsuit over the use of cash bail in Detroit. Advocates say the agreement is a win for racial justice in the criminal justice system, and could be modeled across Michigan and in states nationwide. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Michigan's 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico is photographed in his office, Thursday, July 7, 2022, in Detroit. McConico is at the center of brokering a settlement in a class action lawsuit over the use of cash bail in Detroit. Advocates say the agreement is a win for racial justice in the criminal justice system, and could be modeled across Michigan and in states nationwide. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Michigan's 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico is photographed in his office, Thursday, July 7, 2022, in Detroit. McConico is at the center of brokering a settlement in a class action lawsuit over the use of cash bail in Detroit. Advocates say the agreement is a win for racial justice in the criminal justice system, and could be modeled across Michigan and in states nationwide. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit cash bail reforms to strike at racial inequality