Systemic Problems
Systemic problems require systemic solutions, especially in the criminal legal system. Learn more about some of the most significant issues plaguing our community and what we are doing to address them.
Money bail punishes the poor.
Too often, people are held in custody simply because they cannot afford their freedom. This leads to a multitude of avoidable problems such as people losing their jobs or homes and even their children. Just City is working hard to end this costly and unnecessary cycle.
Clearing a criminal record is far too difficult.
It’s nearly impossible to get a good job with an old criminal conviction. A criminal record can also impact educational and housing opportunities. Just City has led the effort to rewrite harsh expungement policies and give our neighbors a second chance, making our communities stronger and safer.
Our justice system lacks public accountability.
Did you know the court system is taxpayer-funded, and public access is a fundamental right by the United States Constitution? In fact, most criminal cases, aside from the judge, jury, and those directly involved in a proceeding ever witness what happens inside the courtroom.
Thousands of Black men, women, and children are being unnecessarily and dangerously detained.
The less time a person spends in jail, the less likely they are to be accused of criminal behavior in the future. By limiting pretrial detention, we can lessen the spread of diseases like COVID-19 and the negative social, personal, and financial effects of long-term detainment. Black men are disproportionately targeted, apprehended, and incarcerated by law enforcement.
Criminal laws have grown exponentially.
In many communities, including ours, the criminal legal system overshadows nearly everything. This leads to many proposed changes being rejected by legislators, judges, and municipalities that oftentimes don’t represent the populations most impacted. This is true of Memphis and many majority-Black cities.