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How Philly plans to ditch cash bail and what stands in the way

Anna Orso

September 11, 2017 |

Billy Penn |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A candidate for district attorney in Philadelphia is pushing to do away with cash bail entirely as other places have done, including Washington D.C., and New Jersey. Both of those places have seen their jail populations drop, and Philadelphia has taken some initial steps that reduce pre-trial populations in jail, but it faces a number of challenges in implementing no-cash bail. Those include getting widespread buy-in and a conservative legislature.

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Can an Algorithm Save America's Justice System?

Jon Schuppe Matt Toder

August 22, 2017 |

NBC News |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

Although the cash bail system has long been used in the US criminal justice system, many argue that it is biased based on socioeconomic levels. To reduce this bias, criminal justice researchers and data scientists have created a new risk assessment tool that uses an algorithm taking age, history of missing court and former crimes into account before making a recommendation on bail.

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Germany bets on second time lucky with migrant workers

Joseph Nasr

August 18, 2017 |

Reuters |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Germany, Gescher

Germany is learning from its past, and implementing measures that will safeguard successful integration of refugees into the workforce. In the 1960s thousands of Turkish people were recruited to fill labor shortages, but were not given support to help them integrate. They still struggle to enter the workforce. Now, the country devised a program aimed at language learning and job skills development for incoming asylum seekers. “The lesson that Germany learnt is that integration is something you work on.”

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New York City Guarantees a Lawyer to Every Resident Facing Eviction

Kriston Capps

August 14, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York City passed the first law in the nation guaranteeing legal representation to any low-income resident facing eviction. Pilot programs in California show that the right to counsel levels the playing field between tenants and landlords in the courtroom and can reduce the number of cases that result in homelessness, a huge cost savings for both tenants and governments.

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India's Barefoot Lawyers

Tina Rosenberg

August 08, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Bogribail, Karnataka

Legal expertise is often expensive and inaccessible to communities around the world experiencing environmental rights violations and other issues. Similar to the rise of community health workers who are expanding access to basic healthcare, nonprofit Namati is training lay people to help communities understand laws and regulations, gather evidence of violations, and push for remedies.

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The Maasai brand is valuable — and it should belong to the Maasai people

Meg Brindle

July 28, 2017 |

One |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kenya

The Maasai are the "tall, elegant, and distinctively dressed" people living in Africa. Their image is usually used to represent all Africans and is being culturally appropriated by western companies without any profit to the Maasai people. The Maasai IP Initiative to help them trademark and protect their brand.

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New York Just Gave Low-Income Tenants a Big Weapon in Housing Court: A Lawyer

Henry Grabar

July 21, 2017 |

Slate |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

"Nationwide, 90 percent of landlords have attorneys, but 90 percent of tenants do not." New York City is combating this inequality with a new law guaranteeing lawyers to defend low-income tenants in housing court. The goal: prevent unjustified evictions and keep people housed.

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The Right to Pre-Trial Justice for All?

Arielle Dreher

July 19, 2017 |

Jackson Free Press |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Jackson, Mississippi

The idea that someone should not languish in jail because they cannot afford bail is gaining more support around the country, including Mississippi thanks to a lawsuit challenging lengthy detentions of two men. In the lawsuit's wake the state's high court released rules of criminal procedure that grant a minimum bail bond if an initial hearing is delayed more than 48 hours. It also guarantees a right to legal representation early on in the legal process, a key factor in how long someone is in jail.

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Fight or Flight

Angela K. Evans

June 22, 2017 |

Boulder Weekly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

As immigration policy fluctuates under the current administration and the future of thousands of undocumented migrants remains volatile, uncertain, and complex, many find themselves in a heightened state of stress and fear. But activists in Colorado are attempting to take positive steps and support the immigrant community, specifically through the creation of the Colorado Rapid Response Network and 24-hour hotline. The network helps ensure accurate information about ICE activity is shared and that trained volunteers are available to assist with legal, human, or civil rights concerns.

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Hospitals Are Partnering With Lawyers To Treat Patients' Legal Needs

Michelle Andrews

June 06, 2017 |

NPR |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Hospitals in Omaha are creating “medical-legal partnerships” for their patients: teams of doctors, social workers and lawyers that work collaboratively with patients to help them navigate challenges like fighting to get Medicaid coverage for a cat scan, or getting a security deposit back and moving out of an apartment that’s making them sicker.

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