According to Business Insider, black Americans are more likely to be jailed while awaiting trial and to serve longer sentences than white Americans for the same offense. This is often because the defendant cannot afford to pay bail and because the prosecutor is twice as likely to file charges against blacks that carry mandatory minimum sentences than against whites.
Right now, my friend, with no prior record, has been arrested on 13 felony and 5 misdemeanor drug charges. He is not a drug user or a drug dealer, just a person that someone took advantage of in the name of loyalty and family. He has been unable to post bail and it is unlikely that his family and friends will be able to afford a decent criminal defense lawyer. The District Attorney and the law enforcement of the area admit that he is a good kid and that they can tell he has been pressured by a third party, but still refuse to help him out.
Recently, there have been similar arrests of white folks in the same area for the same crime. Their amount of bail has been less than his and their charges have been less than his (even though it has been the same amount of drugs dealt and even though they have a prior record).
He is a person that is devoted to his family, friends, and community, and someone has a lot of potential to overcome the obstacles that life has presented to him. I beg you to look inside your heart, not to excuse him for the mistakes he has made, but to forgive him and to help him have a real fighting chance at a second opportunity at life. Any contribution, big or small, will be a great help and will be very much appreciated.
Thank you.
Jailed because he can't afford the outrageous #bail ! Help #EndDiscrimination #FundedJustice
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