#MassBailOut Aims to Empty Two NYC Jail Facilities

Today marks the start of #MassBailOut, a collaborative effort of grassroots organizations and formerly incarcerated people to post the bail of women and children who are incarcerated and awaiting trial in New York City. Over the course of the next two to three weeks, the coalition intends to post the bail of women held at the Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC) and minors held at the Robert N. Davoren Complex (RNDC).

The cash bail system unfairly harms poor innocent people who have merely been charged with a crime because, unlike people with money to make bail, those who are held in jail are unable to help their attorneys investigate and prepare for trial. Holding people in jail on bail pending trial also creates an enormous incentive for innocent people to plead guilty to crimes they didn’t commit, particularly those where a plea is the fastest way to freedom. This effort helps level the playing field.

Mass Bail Out is managed by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, with support from Vera Institute of Justice, Revolve Impact, launch partner Global Citizen, Think Rubix and an advisory committee comprised of JustLeadership USA, Center for Nu Leadership, the Katal Center for Health, Equity and Justice and VOCAL-New York. You can learn more, including volunteer opportunities, here.