If you want a place where you can help, look up mutual aid bail funds for your city. There’s probably one and they’re always looking for volunteers or donations.
I do have specific hard on for authors and journalists advocating reforms. For the love of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (god), point your audience to local orgs.
I've been to so many seminars, book tour events, etc. Every one present is already on board. They showed up because they want to do something, want to be around other people who also care.
Seems noteworthy?
Advocating a Yes vote is a simple, concrete call to action.
Seems reasonable?
How is this any different?
Pretrial Services Association doesn't even get named. Just some links 1/2 down the article.
For other future dummies, like myself, who've actually organized and passed legislation, here's a draft TLDR:
Our pretrial cash bail system sucks. Especially for the poor. There's lots of negative knockoff effects. Here's an explainer [article], [wiki], and [video]. After 60 years of talking about reform, we need a plan.
We advocate adopting the federal Pretrial Services Agency (psa.gov) risk assessment system nationwide. Like DC and NJ did 20+ years ago. They've proven effective, costs less to administer, is more fair, and leads to better outcomes. Link to impressive metrics [here].
Here's how you can help. Support your state or county based org, listed [here].
Your state not listed? No worries. Here's a [simple guide] to bootstrap an org for your state. With handy links to [model legislation], [resolutions], and [talking points].
Please [contact us] our national campaign for additions, corrections, and questions.
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Edit: Aha. This Harvard workbook doesn't suck. http://cjpp.law.harvard.edu/assets/BailReform_WEB.pdf It even has model legislation. Perfect for the target audience (legislative aides). Great starting point for creating a workbook for dummies, err, activists, like myself.
Oh, right. Because it fits right in with the bullshit reflexive contrarianism around here.
But at some point, one has to transmute outrage into action. Adapt, grow, assume agency.
This issue is settled. The smart people figured out better solutions. The public supports reform. This stage requires the hard work of organizing and lobbying.
My only regret is assuming Caruso (author) is American. Alas, he's in the UK. So he probably wouldn't have known that bail reform is on CA State's 2020 ballot.
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Have you ever taken a CPR class? One of the action steps is to point at someone as yell "Call 911!" as you start checking vitals. If everyone is just standing around trying to figure out what to do, the victim (patient) dies.
Activism, effecting real change in the real world, is a bit like that.
Commenting on HN is settled. Quarterback, armchair, they call it that.
-- Have you talked to a human? One of the action steps is to not be a know-it-all.
Alas, sentences with two commas, is what you have.
Start there. Give me a name. Show me a role model to emulate.
Then tell me how we get from here to there.
But even better, just tell me what you want. Give me action steps, some talking points.
Because you had me at "Hello." I really don't need a PhD thesis relitigating western philosophy since Plato.
(Ditto each and every other progressive policy issue.)