Bay Area

State Sets Bail to Zero for Misdemeanors and Some Lower-Level Felonies

Published

4 years ago

April 16, 2020

Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

In an effort to protect the safety and health of the citizens of California, the state’s Judicial Council set bail to zero for non-violent crimes. The new rule is one among 11 the council has adapted to avoid filling up jails during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Certain lower-level felonies and misdemeanors will get temporary 90-day reprieves in order to shield attorneys, court staff, judges, law enforcement agents, employees and incarcerated inmates in jail facilities from the deadly effects of the coronavirus.

The action by the policy-making body of the courts was called to help control the spread of the virus among inmates and reduce the number of prisoners from lock-up. The city of Los Angeles first enacted a zero-bail initiative a couple of weeks ago.

Now, the measure is statewide.

California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the chairperson of the Judicial Council, said the measure received a lot of input and considerations before approval to reduce the jail population.

“We listened to suggestions from our justice system partners, the public, and the courts, and we greatly appreciate all of the input,” said Cantil-Sakauye in a written statement. “Working with our stakeholders, I’m confident we can preserve the rule of law and protect the right of the victims, the accused, litigants, families and children, and all who seek justice. It’s truly a team effort.”

In mostly overcrowded conditions, African Americans are overrepresented in California’s prison population. Nearly 29% of the state’s male inmates were Black in 2017, the Public Policy Institute of California reported.

Social justice advocates up and down the state have been pressuring officials about the welfare of inmates in jails and prisons since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

Across the state, many inmates, as well as California prison officials, have been diagnosed with the virus. Advocates believe releasing inmates will solve the solution to prevent the spreading of the virus and save lives.

Jamilia Land is an African-American community activist and member of California Families United 4 Justice, a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization that supports families impacted by police-involved shootings and violence. She said the cancellation of bail is a “wonderful idea,” but it is something that should have taken place long before the pandemic.

“It’s something that been needed to happen,” Land told California Black Media. “Unfortunately, when we look at the demographic of people who are incarcerated and overpopulating the jails in general, they look like us. They are Black and Brown people. Also, bail is feeding a lobster that is known as mass incarceration. We need to end it.”

In 2018, when Gov. Gavin Newsom was lieutenant governor in Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration, California passed Senate Bill 10 (SB 10). It was landmark legislation that abolished the cash money bail system for defendants waiting for trial, and also gave judges more discretion to determine who will be sent to jail or not – based on risk.

California was the first state in the nation to do so.

But the bail industry and other opponents of SB 10 rallied against the bill and collected more than 400,000 signatures, preventing the legislation from becoming state law the following year.

Now, it is up for a statewide referendum vote on the California ballot in November 2020.

Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

Posts by Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

21 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

6 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”