[Criminal Justice]
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WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING PROGRAM FOR YOU THIS AFTERNOON.WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS THE CHANGING TIMES AND THE COURT ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR TRAFFIC COURT AT THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURTHOUSE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WE I'VE INVITED TO COME TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY DURING THE TIME OF THIS PANDEMIC.
BASICALLY WE'VE HAD TO CHANGE OPERATION.
WE'VE HAD TO DO, UH, CONSIDER DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
AND THE TWO PEOPLE THAT WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, COME TO YOU FROM VERY RESOURCEFUL AND VERY SERIOUS UNDERTAKING TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUR TRAFFIC COURT, ALLOW ME TO PRESENT OUR GUESTS AND THROUGH ALLOWING THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
AND THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.
I HAVE WITH ME, A MEMBER OF THE TRAFFIC COURT AT THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT.
AND I ALSO HAVE WITH ME A MEMBER OF THE JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER OF LOUISIANA.
THEY HAVE COME HERE TO JOIN WITH YOU AND I TO TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT ARE UNDERWEIGHT, HOW YOU CAN MANEUVER THROUGH THE TRAFFIC COURT AND TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM YOU THAT YOU WANT US TO ADDRESS.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I'D LIKE TO FIRST START TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT WITH THE TRAFFIC COURT SUPERVISOR AT THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT.
AND MS.
UM, SO MY NAME IS GENEVIEVE ROBICHAUD.
I AM THE TRAFFIC COURT COORDINATOR AT THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY ADJUSTING TO THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY.
UM, WHILE THE COURT WAS CLOSED OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, UH, WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST AND KIND OF PLAY IT BY EAR AND, AND JUST WORK WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.
WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT JUDGES ISSUING BENCH WARRANTS AT THIS TIME.
UM, HOPEFULLY WE CAN RELIEVE SOME STRESS.
WE ARE NOT ISSUING BENCH WARRANTS.
WE ARE ISSUING THEM ON A 90 DAY DELAY PER THE JUDGE'S ORDER.
IF YOU HAD A COURT DATE THAT WAS SCHEDULED, UM, DURING THE COURT CLOSURE, IT WAS RESCHEDULED FOR YOU.
UH, SOME OF YOU WILL BE SEEING, UH, OFFICERS SHOW UP AT YOUR RESIDENCE.
WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PHONE CALLS THAT YOU WERE SERVED A WARRANT.
I PROMISE IT'S JUST A NOTICE TO APPEAR.
IF YOU GOT AN AFTER YOUR COURT DATE, IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED ONE, PLEASE GIVE OUR OFFICE A CALL.
UM, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU AS WELL AS SPEAK TO A TRAFFIC CLERK, TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR TICKET.
UM, AND, UH, JUDGE AND I ARE, ARE WORKING ON SETTING UP A ZOOM, UM, UH, TRAFFIC LINE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO RECALL WARRANTS VIRTUALLY.
UM, THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT COMING UP ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.ONE NINE T H J D C DOT O R G.
UM, AS TO, UH, HOW YOU CAN GO ABOUT THAT AND SET UP THAT TIME, WE'RE HOPING IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, WE'LL SEE THAT UP.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, UH, LET ME ASK YOU, UH, SO THE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN MOSTLY ABOUT MISSING COURT AND WHETHER OR NOT A WARRANT WAS ISSUED.
AND THE RESPONSE WAS NO, WE'RE NOT ISSUING WARRANTS FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE CLOSED COURT.
CORRECT, BUT WE WILL COMMENCE ISSUING IT'S.
UH, NOW HAVE WE, ARE WE ISSUING WARRANTS? ARE THAT STILL DELAYED? IT IS GOING TO BE ON A 90 DAY DELAY, ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER THAT WE STAY IN PHASE TWO.
ONCE WE MOVE ON TO PHASE THREE, UM, WE'LL EITHER HAVE TO RE-DISCUSS WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.
UM, BUT IT IS ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW THAT WE WILL START ISSUING WARRANTS WHEN WE ENTER PHASE THREE.
SO WHAT DO I DO IF I WANT TO GO AHEAD THOUGH AND COME TO COURT, HOW DO I COME TO COURT NOW IN LIGHT OF THE CHANGE ENVIRONMENT? AND, UH, IF I WANT TO RESOLVE MY TICKET IN SOME FASHION, WHAT SHOULD I DO? SO IF SOMEONE WANTED TO COME DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE, THERE ARE SOME SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE.
UM, YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS WHILE ENTERING THE COURTHOUSE.
THERE IS A TEMPERATURE CHECK AND MACS ARE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN THE BUILDING.
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WE ARE LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR.YOU'D COME AND CHECK IN AT THE TRAFFIC OFFICE AND OUR OFFICE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR COURT MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AT 9:00 AM.
UM, YOU CAN COME IN, YOU CAN SPEAK TO A DISTRICT ATTORNEY ABOUT YOUR CASE, TRY AND WORK ON RESOLVING IT AT THAT TIME.
UM, IF NOT, WE CAN RESCHEDULE IT TO A TIME WHEN THE JUDGE AND AN OFFICER WILL BE PRESENT.
WE'RE HERE TO RECALL WARRANTS, GET YOU RESCHEDULED, GET THOSE FINES TAKEN CARE OF, UM, AND, AND MAKE IT AS EASY AS A PROCESS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SO WHAT TIME, IF I, IF I MISSED THE COURT DATE, UM, THE COURT HAS DELAYED ISSUING A WARRANT FOR ME, BUT I CAN STILL COME IN AND SEE THE SUPERVISORS AT THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN YOU WILL CONNECT ME WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
THAT'S AT 9:00 AM, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
IF YOU JUST WANT TO COME IN AND RESCHEDULE YOUR COURT DATE OR COME IN AND PAY YOUR TICKET, WE'RE OPEN EIGHT 30, FOUR, 15, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
SO IF YOU HAVE A COURT DATE THAT YOU'VE BEEN UNABLE TO GET TO BECAUSE WE WERE CLOSED, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE YOUR TICKET, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT ISSUED A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST, YOU COULD COME INTO THE BUILDING AT NINE O'CLOCK, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, LET THE TRAFFIC SUPERVISOR KNOW THAT YOU'RE THERE ABOUT A TICKET, AND SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO CONNECT YOU THE CAPABILITY TO CONNECT YOU WITH THE PROSECUTOR.
IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS A RESOLUTION WITH YOUR TICKET, WITH THE PROSECUTOR, AND THAT IS DONE BY WAY OF CONNECTING THE PROSECUTOR THROUGH SOME SORT OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCING PLATFORM, CORRECT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY USING MICROSOFT TEAMS TO UTILIZE THAT IN THE COURTROOM.
WE ARE LIMITING IT TO 10 PEOPLE ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM AT A TIME, AND YOU'LL SIT DOWN AT THE COMPUTER, TALK TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND WORK TO RESOLVE YOUR CASE.
NOW SIMPLY PUT THE COURT DOES NOT LIKE TO ISSUE WARRANTS FOR, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME.
SO WE'VE DELAYED THAT PROCESS AND WE'RE INVITING YOU TO COME TO COURT AT NINE O'CLOCK MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, COME IN PROPERLY AT THAT TIME, BECAUSE WE ARE LIMITING THE SEGMENT TO APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR IN THE MORNING, COME IN, GET IN EARLY, TALK TO THE PROSECUTOR IF YOU'D LIKE ABOUT YOUR TICKET AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET THAT RESOLVED.
AND IF YOU CAN, THAT WILL BE THE END OF IT.
IF NOT, YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK.
WE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COURT DATE AND YOU CAN COME IN AND CHALLENGE YOUR TICKET, DISPUTE YOUR TICKET, OR ADDRESS THE COURT ON ANY MATTER RELATING TO YOUR ABILITY TO PAY.
WE DO WHOLE ABILITY TO PAY HEARINGS.
I RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE MONEY AT THE TIME TO PAY YOUR TICKET.
SO YOU WOULD WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.
AND WE DO ALLOW YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR ABILITY TO PAY AND YOUR ABILITY TO ASK THE COURT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH WHAT'S CALLED AN ALTERNATIVE SENTENCE.
THE LAW ALLOWS THE COURT TO SCREEN YOUR ABILITY TO PAY AND PROVIDE YOU WITH ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO PAY SUCH AS COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK SUCH AS, UH, PRORATING YOUR PAYMENTS ON A MONTHLY PLAN, UH, REDUCING THE AMOUNT THAT YOU OWE.
AND IN SOME INSTANCES WHERE WARRANTED EXCEPTIONAL OCCASIONS, WHERE YOUR, YOUR FINES AND FEES CAN BE SUSPENDED, THAT'S BASED UPON AN INABILITY TO PERHAPS PAY.
SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, HOW DO I GET AHOLD OF YOUR OFFICE? IF I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I NEED AN ANSWER, YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT TWO, TWO FIVE THREE EIGHT NINE FOUR SEVEN SIX ONE.
I AM NOW GOING TO SHIFT GEARS AND TALK ANOTHER PROJECT.
SO I'M GOING TO INVITE OUR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER, A PARTICIPANT WHO HERE ON BEHALF OF THAT ORGANIZATION TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF, I'D LIKE FOR HIM TO ALSO INTRODUCE HIS ORGANIZATION AND HOW HE CAME TO THE POINT IN TIME NOW WHERE HE, HIS ORGANIZATION IS WORKING WITH THE COURT AND A COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENT TO ADDRESS CONCERNS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MISSED COURT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE WARRANTS, WHAT THERE, WHAT THAT ORGANIZATION IS DOING TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE 30,000 OR SO WARRANTS.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT 30,000 WARRANTS WE HAVE AT THE 19TH, Y Y WHAT WE NEED TO DO ABOUT IT.
SO LET ME TURN MY ATTENTION TO JOSH.
SO MY NAME'S JOSHUA BRANCH, UH, I'M THE POLICY AND PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER OF LOUISIANA.
AND, UH, OUR ORGANIZATION IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON, UH, HELPING FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS REENTER INTO SOCIETY.
UM, WE HAVE A RE-ENTRY LEGAL CLINIC AND AN EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC
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THAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY BE HOSTING UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.HOWEVER, AS THINGS ARE WITH COVID 19, OUR OFFICES ARE CLOSED.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE SERVICES HAVE HAD TO CLOSE.
UM, JUDGE JOHNSON THANKFULLY REACHED OUT TO US, UH, IN TRYING TO COME UP WITH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO CREATE A NEW SORT OF PROGRAM, A VIRTUAL PROGRAM, UH, WHEREBY INDIVIDUALS IN THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT CIRCUIT, UH, WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM OUR OFFICE, BE SCREENED, ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM AND HAVE POTENTIAL FINES AND FEES RELATED TO THEIR, UH, TRAFFIC MATTERS, REMOVED, GET SOME OF THESE THINGS RESOLVED FOR THEM, BECAUSE AS I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU ARE AWARE, UH, SOME OF THESE TRAFFIC MATTERS AND TICKETS CAN ADD UP, IT CAN LEAD TO, UH, UH, SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE, WHICH COULD, UH, OBVIOUSLY IMPACT YOUR LIVELIHOOD, DRIVING TO WORK, UH, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UM, SO THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, START UP NOW AND IT'S ENTIRELY VIRTUAL, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, UH, HOPE TO BE EXPANDING, NOT ONLY IN BATON ROUGE, BUT ALSO IN LOUISIANA AS WELL.
SO MR. BRASHY WHAT YOU HAVE COME TO TELL US ABOUT IS THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN TWO AREAS, AND NOW WE HAVE THIS NEW AREA THAT YOU ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN.
SO THE JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER HAS A RE-ENTRY LEGAL PROGRAM.
AND I, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR THAT WORD TO US, BUT A LOT OF US REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT RE-ENTRY CONCEPT IS.
SO WHY DON'T YOU SHARE WITH OUR PUBLIC WHAT RE-ENTRY IS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME TO WHAT AN EXPUNGEMENT IS.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE VIRTUAL TRAFFIC COURT.
SO SHARE WITH US THE CONCEPT OF RE ENTRY.
WHERE AM I COMING FROM TO ENTER BACK TO AND SHARE WITH THIS WORD EXPUNGEMENT? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? DOES IT MEAN TO CANCEL OUT? DOES IT MEAN TO HIDE WHAT SHARE WITH US WHAT, WHAT YOU CAN ABOUT THAT? OF COURSE.
WELL, SO WHEN I'M SPEAKING ABOUT, UH, OUR RE-ENTRY CLINIC, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN FORMERLY INCARCERATED.
UM, THEY'RE COMING BACK FROM PRISON, UM, POTENTIALLY JAIL BACK INTO, UM, SOCIETY AS IS WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, SERVICES THAT FOLKS NEED IN ORDER TO SET THEM UP FOR A LIFE OF SUCCESS.
THINGS LIKE HOUSING, UH, THINGS LIKE RESOLVING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS, IF YOU WERE ON A PAYMENT PLAN AND INCARCERATED, WHICH COULD ALSO LEAD TO YOUR LICENSE BEING SUSPENDED.
AND SO WE, AND SOME OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA LEGAL SERVICES FOR 72 PLUS, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO DO AN INTAKE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, SEE WHERE SOME OF THEIR PROBLEM AREAS ARE AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE THEM WITH SERVICES SO THAT THEY CAN BE, UH, UPLIFTED AND, UH, HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE.
UM, AND YOU ASKED YOUR QUESTION ABOUT EXPUNGEMENT.
UM, THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS IS A PROCESS BY WHICH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE, UH, FORMER CRIMINAL RECORDS, UM, CAN HAVE THOSE SORT OF CLEARED AWAY IN A SENSE, ESSENTIALLY SEALED.
AND, UM, HOPEFULLY IN THE BEST CIRCUMSTANCES, WON'T BE USED DISCRIMINATORILY AGAINST THEM.
WE'VE HAD CLIENTS WHO HAVE HAD A OLD CRIMINAL RECORDS WHEN THEY WERE, UH, 18, 19 YEARS OLD THAT ARE STILL POPPING UP WHEN THEY'RE 40, 30 YEARS OLD, TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, A NEW JOB OR PERHAPS HOUSING THAT STOPPING THEM FROM, UH, UPWARDS MOBILITY.
SO THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE THOSE RECORDS SEALED SO THAT THEY CAN'T BE USED AGAINST THEM.
UM, AND, AND ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND FINALLY, YOU ASKED ABOUT OUR, UM, OUR TRAFFIC, THE TRAFFIC CLINIC.
UM, SO AGAIN, THIS WAS, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY WHEREBY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE OUTSTANDING TRAFFIC MATTERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS WHO THEY'RE AFRAID TO GO INTO COURT.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THEY THINK SOMETHING REAL BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM.
MAYBE THERE'LL BE INCARCERATED BECAUSE THEY HAVE OUTSTANDING FINES OR FEES.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE YOU CAN GO INTO COURT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.
OF COURSE, WITH COVID-19, THIS IS ENTIRELY VIRTUAL.
SO YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING TRAFFIC MATTERS AND YOU HAVE A BENCH WARRANT OUT FOR A POTENTIAL TRAFFIC MATTER.
UH, YOU COULD CALL OUR OFFICES OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND, UM, BE LINKED WITH THE 19TH JDC SO THAT WE CAN RESOLVE THESE ISSUES ENTIRELY VIRTUALLY NO ONE WILL BE EXPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER AND YOU CAN HAVE THESE MATTERS RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF INNOVATION, A LOT OF CREATIVITY, A LOT OF ENERGETIC PEOPLE, UH, WORKING HARD TO TRY AND CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE DOING BUSINESS.
IMAGINE THAT IF YOU HAVE A TRAFFIC TICKET NOW FOR THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, WE'RE PLANNING A SESSION FOR YOU WHERE YOU COULD GO
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ON A WEBCAM, A DEVICE THROUGH YOUR LAPTOP OR DESKTOP, OR EVEN YOUR CELL PHONE.WE'RE TRYING TO SET THIS UP SO THAT YOU, YOU CAN CONNECT WITH THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT, WITH THE PROSECUTING DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE COURT AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE YOUR MATTER AND IN A WAY WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FEAR THAT IF YOU COME TO COURT, I'M GOING TO ARREST YOU.
UH, WE WILL ARREST MS B, BUT THAT'S NOT THE PURPOSE THAT WE'RE THERE FOR.
WE ARE THERE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE, SURE THAT YOU ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF YOU VIOLATE THE RULES.
BUT IF YOU DO VIOLATE THE RULES, DON'T RUN FROM US AND GET ALL, ALL THOSE WARRANTS, ATTACHMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN GET YOURSELF LINED UP IN JAIL AND A SANCTIONED FOR NOT COMING TO COURT.
SO THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT THIS IS WE ARE TRANSITIONING TO VIRTUAL COURT SETTINGS.
WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT WE HAVE AN INTERIM APPROACH WHERE IF YOU ARE OUT THERE AND YOU'RE AFRAID TO COME TO THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A WARRANT, THE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS PLANNED THIS, THE JUSTICE ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER WITH THE COURT, YOU COULD CONTACT THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON HOW TO REACH THESE COURTS, PARTICULARLY THE 1980 SEAT.
WE WANT YOU TO RESOLVE YOUR TICKET.
SO YOU'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO TRUST US, COME ONLINE, GET INVOLVED LESS.
YOU NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.
YOU NEED TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND COME IN TO SEE US ABOUT YOUR TICKET.
SO LET ME SHIFT IN A SUMMARY WAY AND BACK TO MS. ROBICHAUD.
SHE IS OUR 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT TRAFFIC SUPERVISOR.
SO I'D LIKE TO HURT FOR HER TO JUST SUMMARIZE IN A NUTSHELL, AND THEN WE'LL ASK JOSH TO DO THE SAME THING.
LET'S INVITE OUR PUBLIC DOWN TO OUR BUILDING WHEN NEEDED AND WHEN NOT NEEDED.
LET'S TELL THEM HOW TO COME IN SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BE AFRAID.
SO THE VERY FIRST THING TO DO, IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A TICKET, PLEASE CONTACT US.
UM, WE ARE AVAILABLE BY PHONE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, EIGHT 30 TO FOUR 15.
UH, AGAIN, THAT NUMBER IS TWO, TWO FIVE THREE EIGHT NINE FOUR SEVEN SIX ONE.
UM, WE DO OUR BEST TO GET TO YOUR CALLS AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
UM, CALL US, FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE WILL LET YOU KNOW IF YOU QUALIFY TO RESOLVE YOUR TICKET, UH, VIRTUALLY IF YOU DO NEED TO COME INTO COURT, IF YOUR TICKETS PAYABLE, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.
I WOULD SUGGEST FOLKS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN ABOUT THE VARIOUS RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE WOULD BE TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE.
AND THAT WEBSITE IS J A C LOUISIANA, THE STATE SPELLED OUT DOT O R G.
AND ON THAT WEBSITE, WE ALSO HAVE COVID-19 SPECIFIC RESOURCES.
SO IF YOU HAVE, UH, UH, YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT THE LOUISIANA MAIN STREET PROGRAM, CAUSE YOU HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS THAT WAS CLOSED.
YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT UPDATES WITH THE COURTS.
YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH EXPUNGEMENT LAW.
WE HAVE SLEWS OF VIDEOS ONLINE AT THAT WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN, UH, USE TO HELP YOU OUT WITH YOUR, UH, PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE ARE GOING TO CONCLUDE THIS SEGMENT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SHOW.
WE WANT TO THANK OUR HOST, UH, METRO 21 FOR HAVING US COME AND ALLOWING YOU TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE WILL HAVE A SERIES OF PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL WEBCASTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME TO YOU AND TELL YOU HOW WE'RE ADJUSTING AND HOW YOU CAN GET TO COURT WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING TO COME IN PERSON.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME DOWN AND HELP US DESIGN THIS VIRTUAL COURT SETTING, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AND HELP US TO PROGRAM YOUR FUTURE TRAFFIC COURT.
AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER SEGMENT.
UH, I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE SPECIAL GUESTS ASSISTING ME WITH TODAY'S SHOW.
AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT, UH, MANY OF OUR, UH, COMMUNITY, UM, RESIDENTS FACE WITH RESPECT TO GETTING ARRESTED AND GETTING OUT OF THE JAIL.
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LITTLE BIT.WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO TALK TO THE BAIL PROJECT.
UH, I HAVE, UH, TWO GUESTS HERE FROM THAT ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE GOING TO START THIS SEGMENT WITH ALLOWING THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION.
TELL US ABOUT THE MISSION THAT THE ORGANIZATION, UH, HAS AND TELL US HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HERE IN BATON ROUGE WITH THIS BAIL PROJECT.
THAT'S B A I L A AND UH, THE WORD BAILED MEANS BASICALLY TO PUT UP SOMETHING AND THIS CASE MONEY TO GET OUT OF JAIL.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE CONCEPT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ARRESTED AND YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF JAIL, YOU NEED TO POST A BOND THAT BOND TO GET OUT AND THAT'S CALLED BAILING YOU OUT OF JAIL.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
LET'S GET STARTED WITH OUR GUESTS.
UH, I HAVE TWO GUESTS AND I'M GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND START THE CONVERSATION.
SO I'LL THROW THE BALL TO ASHLEY WHITE.
I AM A BAIL DISRUPTOR HERE IN BATON ROUGE WITH THE BAIL PROJECT.
AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, YOUR HONOR.
MY NAME IS QUEEN HILL, UM, JURIS DOCTOR, AND I'M ALSO A BAIL DISRUPTOR AND A CLIENT ADVOCATE FOR THE BILL PROJECT INCORPORATED HERE IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
AND THE BAIL PROJECT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT FIGHTS MASS INCARCERATION THROUGH ADDRESSING THE CASH BAIL SYSTEM.
AND WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE IS INNOCENT UNTIL THEY'RE PROVEN GUILTY AND THAT CASH BAIL SHOULD NOT DETERMINE SOMEONE'S ABILITY TO THEIR PRETRIAL FREEDOM.
UM, THE BAIL PROJECT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW, AND WE HAVE SITES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE IN ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND WE'VE BEEN HERE IN BATON ROUGE FOR ABOUT A YEAR, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH, UM, OUR LOCAL JUDGES, WORKING WITH, UM, OTHER SYSTEM PLAYERS IN THE PRETRIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A NEW REALITY FOR OUR CLIENTS.
WE HELP DEPOSE BAIL FOR THEM FREE OF CHARGE.
AND WE ALSO ASSIST THEM WITH MAKING THEIR FUTURE COURT DATES AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES THAT THEY MAY NEED.
IF THAT'S A TEXT MESSAGE REMINDER, IF THAT'S A RIDE TO COURT, IF THAT'S JUST A PHONE CALL TO LET THEM KNOW THAT SOMEBODY IS THINKING OF THEM AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE FOR THEM.
SO WE KNOW THAT THE PRETRIAL DETENTION HAS BEEN FUELING MASS INCARCERATION FOR YEARS NOW AND HAS BEEN THE, UM, RESPONSIBLE ELEMENT FOR OVER 99% OF THE GROWTH IN THE PRETRIAL, UM, IN THE, IN THE DETENTION COMPLEX.
SO WE'RE ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT ON ANY GIVEN DAY, YOU KNOW, 450,000 PEOPLE MAY BE IN A JAIL SALE.
PRE-TRIAL WAITING FOR THEIR, UM, WAITING FOR THEIR COURT THEIR DAY IN COURT.
SO WE'VE HELPED HUNDREDS OF CLIENTS HERE IN BATON ROUGE, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.
UM, AND THAT WAY WE WANT TO GET OUT THE WORD THAT, YOU KNOW, BAIL IS A SYSTEM THAT THEIR OPTIONS, AND WHEN YOU ARE ARRESTED, YOU DO HAVE OPTIONS AND YOUR FAMILY DOES HAVE OPTIONS.
SO WITH, UM, THE COORDINATION OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, PRISON REFORM COALITION, AND THE, UM, DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE WHO THE BAIL INDUSTRY AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS, THE YWC A BAIL FUND, WE'VE CREATED A KNOW YOUR RIGHTS BAIL POSTER AND THIS BAIL POSTER LETS PEOPLE KNOW AND LETS THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OPTIONS CONCERNING BAIL.
IF A CASH BAIL HAS BEEN SET AND YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET THAT MONEY REFUNDED BACK TO YOU AT THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR CASE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE A SURETY.
AND THAT COULD BE SURETY JUST MEANS IT'S SECURED WITH SOME SORT OF PROTECTION OR PROMISE OR ASSET.
AND SO YOU PEOPLE CAN USE THEIR PROPERTY AS A SURETY FOR A BOND, OR YOU CAN USE A COMMERCIAL SHIRTY, WHICH IS THE TRADITIONAL BAIL BONDSMEN OPTION.
AND WE HAVE BAIL FUNDS HERE IN THE BA IN BATON ROUGE AREA.
AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT BAIL FUNDS.
IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO AFFORD CASH BAIL, THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO HAVE LIMITS.
UM, AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ALWAYS HELP EVERYONE, BUT WE TRY TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
AND OUR CONTACT INFORMATION, UM, FOR BOTH THE BAIL PROJECT BAIL FUND AND THE Y WCA BAIL FUND ARE
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INCLUDED ON OUR POSTERS.AND WE'D LIKE TO REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THIS, UM, SPREAD FAR AND WIDE SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO CONTACT US.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION, UH, THIS TERM BAIL DISRUPTOR, WHERE DID THAT IDEA? WELL, OKAY.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH QUOTING THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
AND WHAT THAT SAYS IS EXCESSIVE BAIL SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED, NO ICS NOR EXCESSIVE FINES IN POLES NOR CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT INFLICTED.
AND SO MOST OF OUR CLIENTS, THEIR BAILS ARE EXCESSIVE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING IN AND WE'RE PAYING THOSE BILLS IF YOU DON'T HAVE, UM, I, I DON'T REALLY KNOW ANYBODY WHO HAS $5,000 JUST LAYING AROUND TO POST BAIL.
AND SO THAT'S WHY OUR, WE COME IN TO DISRUPT THAT UNJUST PROCESS.
SO WHEN WE'RE CALLING OURSELVES BAIL DISRUPTORS, WE'RE ACTUALLY DISRUPTING THE INJUST SYSTEM AND WORKING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO DESERVE IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE INNOCENT UNTIL YOU'RE PROVEN GUILTY.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT TERM DISRUPTED COMING FROM.
WE'RE DISRUPTING MASS INCARCERATION.
WE'RE DISRUPTING INJUSTICES IN THE CRIMINAL SIDE.
WELL, THAT TERMINOLOGY, THE FIRST TIME I HEARD BAIL DISRUPTOR, I DON'T KNOW.
I SORT OF WANTED TO RUN, RUN FROM THAT.
UM, SO W W YOU, YOU, YOU BELIEVE THAT WE, AS JUDGES ARE SETTING BONDS, UH, BAIL AMOUNTS TOO HIGH FOR THE ALLEGATIONS, THAT WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT TOO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS FOR OUR CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE, THE BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN SET BY JUDGES ARE EXCESSIVE FOR THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND POPULATION THAT WE SERVE.
A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS ARE HOUSING INSECURE.
THEY HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.
THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
SO EVEN I HAD A CLIENT, UM, IT WAS A A HUNDRED DOLLARS BOND AND THEY COULD NOT EVEN AFFORD THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE HOUSING INSECURE, WHAT SOCIETY WOULD CALL AS HOMELESS.
SO THEY, THERE WAS NO WAY FOR THEM TO EVEN COME UP WITH A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
SO WHEN PEOPLE THINK, OKAY, WELL, THAT'S THIS PRICE A HUNDRED DOLLARS IS NOTHING BUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS IS A LOT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY JUST, IT SHOULD GO PERSON BY PERSON.
SO I'D LIKE YOU TO SHARE BRIEFLY WITH US ABOUT AN HOUR.
I'M NOT CERTAIN HOW MUCH MORE TIME WE HAVE, WE'RE RUNNING CLOSE ON TIME, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE.
UH, HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY CONTACT YOUR ORGANIZATION IF THEY FEEL THEY NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE? WHY DON'T YOU SHARE THAT WITH US? UM, YOU CAN CONTACT CONTACT US@BELLPROJECT.ORG, MORE SITE SPECIFIC BATON ROUGE, UM, AT BELL PROJECT.ORG G AND ALSO MY OFFICE LINE IS TWO, TWO FIVE THREE FOUR SEVEN ZERO EIGHT ONE SIX.
SO WE HAVE OUR EMAIL BATON ROUGE@BAILPROJECT.ORG.
WE HAVE THAT PHONE NUMBER THAT, UM, QUEEN JUST GAVE OUT.
AND THEN YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO BAIL PROJECT.ORG.
THERE'S A REQUEST HELP BUTTON, AND YOU CAN SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR ANY FAMILY MEMBER THAT YOU KNOW MAY BE INCARCERATED.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND LEARNING ABOUT THE VAIL PROJECT.
PLEASE FOLLOW UP AND CONTACT US AT THE COURTHOUSE IF YOU NEED RELIEF ON A BOND REDUCTION.
BUT IF YOU NEED TO BE BAILED OUT BILL TO THE BAIL PROJECT, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.