National Group Aims to Stop Incarceration and Combat Economic Disparities in the Bail System
Two Bail Project workers explain how they post bail for people who can't afford it, why cash bail doesn't actually ensure court appearances, and the life-changing impact of getting people home before trial.
About This Episode
Megan Diebboll and Asia Johnson are Bail Disruptors who work with The Bail Project in Detroit. They interview candidates and provide up to $5,000 in bail to those who cannot afford it. Megan and Asia are working to end the bail system, which they believe is ineffective and discriminatory against poor Americans.
In this episode of Open Mike, Megan and Asia explain the purpose of the Bail Project and how they got involved. They address the claims that bail guarantees court attendance and speculate on how COVID-19 is affecting local jails. Megan and Asia tell Mike about the life-changing impact freedom before a trial can have.
Show Notes
- Introducing today’s guests Megan Diebboll and Asia Johnson of the Detroit Bail Project
- Mike has been diving into the problems in the criminal justice system on the show recently
- If 92% of people who can’t post bail plead guilty
- What is The Bail Project?
- They’ve had to help people who had bail set at one dollar
- Do judges realize that people can’t pay the one- or ten-dollar bond?
- Why are people who don’t make bail more likely to be convicted?
- What does the bail project do in Detroit?
- If you have a loved one in need of help with bail call 323-366-0799 or visit their website
- Is there any reason you wouldn’t provide bail?
- Over 90% of the people they help still come to their court date
- Money is recycled through the bail project so it can help multiple people each year. Donate here.
- What is a Bail Disruptor?
- If someone is dangerous, it shouldn’t matter if they are rich
- Megan, why did you join the bail project?
- Asia, why did you join the bail project?
- How do for-profit bail bonds agents work?
- Mike wants to help them get the word out
- Taxpayers spend 14 billion dollars every year holding people before trial
- The pandemic is likely making more people plead guilty because social distancing is hard in jail
- Can you each tell the most impactful story you’ve seen from bailing people out?
- Please tell any defense attorney or incarcerated people that you know about the Bail Project
- Mike wants his daughters to grow up to do things this important and impactful
- Thank you for watching this episode of the Open Mike podcast!
FAQs
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What is the Bail Project and what does it do in Detroit?
The Bail Project is a national nonprofit that pays bail, up to $5,000, for people who can’t afford it, at no cost to them. In Detroit it operates out of Wayne and Washtenaw counties, doing an intake assessment to also connect clients with transportation, treatment, and other needs.
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Do Bail Project clients come back to court?
According to Mike Morse, and confirmed by the guests, over 90% of the people the Bail Project helps come back to court even though it wasn’t their own money. Mike said the bail amount is not what drives people to return, and the guests agreed. They added that people often miss court for reasons beyond their control, such as a notice going to the wrong address, so they send court reminders and stay in touch with clients’ public defenders.
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Are there cases where the Bail Project won't post bail?
They take each case individually and say they are charge agnostic. But when Mike noted they had told him they won’t bail out someone on a third or fourth charge, they called it a hard and fast rule, mostly due to a lack of community resources. For example, with a third domestic violence charge, if they can’t get the person into anger management or be sure he won’t return to a home shared with the alleged victim, they may have to say no.
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What does it cost someone to get bailed out through the Bail Project?
Nothing financially. Clients go through an intake interview so the organization can assess needs like substance abuse treatment or transportation to court, a job or child care. According to Mike, once the person comes back to court the Bail Project gets the bail money back and can use the same money to help someone else.
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Why do Megan Diebboll and Asia Johnson do this work?
Megan says she has had loved ones incarcerated, which drives her passion for the job. Asia says she was inspired by a magazine article about Kalief Browder, a juvenile in New York accused of stealing a book bag, who couldn’t pay a bond of a couple hundred dollars, was sent to Rikers Island where he was assaulted and abused, and was released without being convicted; the trauma haunted him and he died by suicide.
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