Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
If you get arrested and held in jail for a crime, a judge will probably set bail. Pay it, and you will be released. It's a centuries-old process.
Now some human rights groups say the bond system is unfair because it penalizes the poor. Inmates arrested for even minor offenses can wind up spending months behind bars because they can't afford to pay. These absences can cause a ripple in the communities they leave behind.
In August, President Obama brought in civil rights lawyers to try to reform the practice on the national level.
On Monday, Assemblyman Rob Bonta and Sen. Bob Hertzberg signaled their intention to tackle the issue head-on.
Phil Telfeyan is the executive director for Equal Justice Under Law in Washington DC, an organization that provides legal services to those in need.
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