Tennessee lawmakers want courts to stop considering a defendant’s financial situation when setting bail.
Tennessee lawmakers are considering changes to the state’s bail system
Criminal justice is a hot topic in the Tennessee legislature this year. And while some bills would keep people behind bars for longer, others aim to get people out — especially those held before their trials.
Nashville Community Bail Fund, Criminal Court Clerk Agree To Make It Easier For People To Make Bail
A new agreement will make it easier for the Nashville Community Bail Fund to get people out of jail. Earlier this year, the nonprofit sued Davidson County’s criminal court clerk, with help from the ACLU.
Report Urges Nashville To Cut Back On Criminal Justice Fines And Fees
Mayor John Cooper’s office has released a report outlining the role of fines and fees in Nashville’s criminal justice system. It also lays out recommendations to reduce, and eventually eliminate, the city’s reliance on such costs.
Nashville Police Arrest Homeless Black Man In First Night Of Stricter Downtown Mask Enforcement
The Metro Nashville Police Department issued its first citation for a mask violation on Lower Broadway on Wednesday night. They cited and arrested a 61-year-old Black homeless man, promoting immediate criticism. The charge was later dropped.
The Nashville Community Bail Fund Almost Ran Out Of Money. Now It’s In Better Shape Than Ever.
The Nashville Community Bail Fund has been working in overdrive to release people from jail since the coronavirus started spreading. By May, the organization’s money had nearly dried up. But the nationwide protests have spurred a flood of donations.
Nashville’s Criminal Justice Agencies Struggle To Get On The Same Page About Coronavirus
As the coronavirus continues to spread through Tennessee, one group is particularly vulnerable: people in jail. Many suffer underlying health conditions. Plus, they’re locked into tight quarters, often without regular access to soap or hand sanitizer. Law enforcement officials are now grappling with how to balance public safety and public health.
Nashville Activists Renew Push To End Money Bail
Many people arrested in Davidson County are not in the room when a judge sets their bail. That’s according a report released last week by a group of Nashville activists who want the city to change the way it jails people before trial.
Mother’s Day ‘Bail Out’ Seeks To Reunite Low-Income Families Divided By Arrests
Listen Some activists say Nashville’s new pre-trial release program, which aims to increase the number of low-income defendants released without having to pay bail, is not doing enough to keep poor people from waiting behind bars. They’re responding by organizing a “bail out” this weekend, part of a national campaign to get black moms home […]