Washington Square Legal Services Bail Fund

On Feb 14th Black Love Day organizations working to #EndMoneyBail and pretrial detention in Memphis, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Alabama, and Texas launche a month of Bail Outs in observance of Black History Month and International Women’s Month. Find out more and donate: https://nomoremoneybail.org/

Rally tomorrow to demand accountability for the paid bail bond industry. Join if you're able! You can also sign the petition that will be delivered to Gov. Cuomo this week at: https://campaigns.organizefor.org//investigate-money-bail-

Dear Friends, If you are able on this #GivingTuesday we hope that you will consider supporting the WSLS Bail Fund. As many of you know, in the criminal system often only a few hundred dollars stands between individuals and their freedom. People languish on Rikers Island for months while awaiting trial simply because they can't afford bail. In that time period, people are fired from their jobs, lose custody of their children, and are subject to inhumane treatment. In the twel...ve months we have been in operation, the Bail Fund has been able to bail out 54 people, and we are very grateful to those that have helped us to have this impact on the communities surrounding NYU. In order to maintain and expand upon the work that we've been able to do, we need to raise much more money to continue posting bail. Any amount that you can spare is greatly appreciated. All donations are tax deductible. You can donate at http://wslsbf.org/donate/. With your help, we can continue serving our surrounding communities, and we can also start exploring the possibility of extending our services to people in immigration detention, where bond amounts are much higher. Thank You, The WSLS Bail Fund Team

70% of the people held in our jails have not been convicted. This is a mockery of justice #FREEnewyork bit.ly/jlusa-FREEnewyork JustLeadershipUSA

The WSLS Bail Fund is now on twitter! Follow us @WSLSBailFund and read our first tweet thread about our mission.

As most NYC students go back to school this week, 1500 high school-aged students are stuck on Rikers - most awaiting trial - simply because they cannot afford bail. Due to state regulations, charitable bail funds are unable to post for many of these young people. But this September Youth Represent, RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights, The Bronx Freedom Fund, and the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund are raising money to bail out these students - all money raised goes entirely to ...bail for young people. If you're able, please consider donating to this wonderful cause at libertyandjustice.nyc #ClassroomsNotCages #AbolishBail

We are excited to be hosting a workshop this Sunday, March 5 at the Beyond the Bars Annual Conference at Columbia University! Our workshop, "Setting up a Charitable Bail Fund: Lessons Learned" will take place at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday. There will be a host of wonderful speakers and workshops all weekend. Spread the word and register for FREE here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-bars-transcending-t

Who is more culpable: A homeless adolescent who stole a 10 dollar scarf to protect herself from the winter, or the people who released her into a freezing winter night without proper clothing? The young woman faced weeks in pre-trial detention for taking the scarf, while DOC's indifference was met with impunity. This is just one more example of the irony and incongruity that define our system of pre-trial justice. ... http://www.nydailynews.com//city-routinely-releases-people

In two months of operation, the Washington Square Legal Services Bail Fund has posted bail for 14 people! We have posted for people accused of stealing baby diapers from CVS, hopping subway turnstiles, and taking winter clothes without permission. Crimes of poverty continue to be conflated with culpability. Many of the people we work with have children at home or are children themselves. They are now home, unburdened by the indignity of Rikers Island. Your incredible support has helped even a grossly unequal playing field. There is no doubt that criminal justice reform is in jeopardy, especially with yesterday's appointment of Senator Sessions. But it is also true that the center of gravity for criminal justice reform is local. https://www.thenation.com//election-night-saw-victories-i/