America’s criminal justice system targets the poor, who face an outsized risk of being fined, arrested and incarcerated for even minor offenses.
Once ensnared by the criminal justice system, people who cannot afford to pay for their freedom remain trapped behind bars, separated from family, jobs and communities.
We represent those directly harmed by these discriminatory practices and go to court to demand accountability and reform.
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Pretrial Detention
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Public Defense
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Unlawful Fees and Fines
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Key Victories
City of Pearl Youth Court
Unlawful Fees and Fines
In August 2016, a young African-American woman was traveling through Pearl, Mississippi while looking for employment. She was a passenger in a friend’s car, and her baby rode with them in a car seat. When the car was stopped for a minor traffic violation, it was discovered that both adults had outstanding warrants for routine...
Caliste v. Cantrell
Pretrial Detention
The MacArthur Justice Center is pursuing a federal class action lawsuit against Orleans Magistrate Judge Harry E. Cantrell challenging his practice of setting high bail amounts without any consideration of the person’s ability to pay or alternative no-cost conditions of release. Judge Cantrell also insists on using commercial bond companies (rather than cash), which require a non-reimbursable fee, a portion of which goes to the court’s General Fund – revenue Cantrell and other judges’ control.