The criminal justice system is one of the most oppressive and inequitable systems that the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM)’s advocates for reform in. One reform the AADM advocated for was the elimination of cash bail. Cash bail is the money paid on the behalf of people who are incarcerated pre-trial must pay as collateral to get out of jail. In paying a bail bond, a person is committing to making sure that the defendant will return to court to face their charges. The issue with cash bail is that it disproportionately affects wealthier people, as they are more able to allocate the money necessary to post bond. For low-income people who cannot afford bail, they must sit in jail despite not being convicted. When money is the sole thing determining someone’s freedom, they are in effect “guilty until proven innocent”. Therefore, the AADM has made advocating for the elimination of cash bail a priority.
In 2019, the Mayor & Commission passed an amendment to the Freedom Act of Athens-Clarke County that effectively eliminated cash bail for low-level, non-violent offenses. The AADM was a significant part of organizing meetings and community discussion
But we still have cash bail.
Although Athens-Clarke County judges now have the discretion to not assign bonds for low-level, non-violent offenses, there are still people locked up in the county jail for petty crimes like criminal trespassing and loitering/ prowling because they cannot afford to pay bail.
Today, the AADM continues to advocate for the elimination of cash bail, but our organization knows that the wheels of policy change are slow. There are too many people stuck in jail because they can not afford their bonds to wait for those wheels to turn. Therefore, the AADM provides bail-out support to people incarcerated on low-level, non-violent charges. We also assist people with paying legal fees associated with their criminal cases including attorney fees, probation fees, legal fines, and any other costs associated with court cases. Furthermore, our organization has partnered with several community organizations such as the Oconee Street Methodist Church to provide wrap-around services to those recently released from jail. People may have lost their homes, jobs, or modes of transportation due to incarceration, which can make it difficult to effectively address their charges. The AADM connects our clients with various community resources revolving around essentials such as housing, transportation to court dates, employment, healthcare and food.