PRESS RELEASE

Bias-driven police brutality was not the only part of the criminal justice system under fire in yesterday’s DOJ report findings in Ferguson; the detention of people of color in large numbers without convictions also came under the microscope. Those findings aren’t unique to Ferguson, according to the Pretrial Justice Institute, a national leader in the fight against discriminatory pretrial practices.

Statement from Cherise Fanno Burdeen, Executive Director of Pretrial Justice Institute:

“Discrimination in Ferguson is just the tip of the iceberg. Nationwide, communities of color are bearing the brunt of a discriminatory pretrial detention system that leaves those who can’t afford costly bond amounts behind bars from periods lasting from days to years, before they get their day in court.

“Sadly, unnecessary pretrial detention disrupts the work, education and family life of the detained, causing irreparable harm. And, the overuse of jail threatens public safety. We now know that even short periods of pretrial detention increase an individual’s likelihood to commit crime after their case is resolved.

“We are glad to see the DOJ shedding light on this nationwide problem. The decision to arrest or detain should not be based on a person’s skin color or how much money they have.”

Traffic stops, arrests, and use of force are merely the beginning of a person’s criminal justice experience.

Those arrested in Ferguson, 93% of whom are African American, will most likely be required to post a financial bond for their release, creating financial hardship on them and their families. If they can’t afford bond, they will remain in jail until trial or until they plead guilty. Those held in jail for a few days or more, of which 95% are African American in Ferguson, face worse sentencing outcomes and long-term hurdles such as reduced employment and education prospects.

Key facts on bias in pretrial detention rates nationwide:

• African-Americans are twice as likely to be detained than Whites for non-violent drug arrests;
• Pretrial bond is 35% higher for African American men than for White men charged with the same offense;
• Those detained pretrial, who are disproportionately men of color, are more likely to be convicted and given additional jail or prison time than similar individuals who are released before trial.

For Pretrial Justice Institute’s video and infographic on the correlation between race and bail in America, please visit: www.pretrial.org/race-bail. To learn more about pretrial detention, please visit: www.pretrial.org/the-problem.

For interviews with Pretrial Justice Institutes experts on racial disparities in pretrial detention and their relation to Ferguson, please contact Molly Haigh at 907-750-1999 or molly@fitzgibbonmedia.com.

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The Pretrial Justice Institute is a national organization working to advance safe, fair, and effective pretrial justice that honors and protects all people. We do this by working collaboratively with organizations and funders who support pragmatic solutions guided by research and the law.