For years, criminal justice reform efforts have focused on reducing pretrial detention, particularly detention resulting from an inability to pay cash bail. While many jurisdictions have reduced or eliminated the use of cash bail, particularly for low-level offenses, more than 700,000 people across the country are still detained without having been found guilty of any crime. As COVID-19 has closed or limited courts and postponed jury trials, pretrial detention has become less definite in length. At the same time, concern about the potential spread of COVID-19 in jails has pushed justice system actors to search for ways to reduce jail populations. This webinar will explore several efforts to seek expanded release for those detained pretrial in response to COVID-19.
March 31, 2020 COVID-19 WEBINAR SERIES
Expanding Pretrial Release in the Age of COVID-19
Welcome and Introduction
- Judy Perry Martinez, President, American Bar Association; Of Counsel, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn
Panelists
- Amelia Cramer, Chief Deputy Pima County Attorney in Tucson, Arizona
- Lauren Gottesman, Staff Attorney, Criminal Defense Practice, Decarceration Unit, Legal Aid Society of New York
- Corey Stoughton, Attorney-in-Charge, Criminal Defense Practice, Special Litigation Unit, Legal Aid Society of New York
- Andrea Woods, Staff Attorney, ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project
Moderator
- Malia Brink, Counsel for Indigent Defense, ABA Standing Committee Aid and Indigent Defendants
Joint Sponsors: Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, Criminal Justice Section
Co-Sponsors: ABA Center for Public Interest Law, ABA Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice, ABA Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities, ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, ABA Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division, ABA Section of Litigation, ABA Section of State and Local Government Law, ABA Senior Lawyers Division, ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service
Resources
Summary of Webinar - Expanding Pretrial Release in the Age of COVID-19
ABA Statement Re: Provisions for prisons and jails in COVID-19 economic stimulus package
NY COVID Mass Writ Manhattan
NY COVID Mass Writ Parole
NY Coronel v. Decker Petition Complaint
NY Memo of Law ISO Temporary Restraining Order
Harris County - Motion on Pretrial Release and COVID
Harris County - Model Order on Pretrial Release and COVID
Chart: Vulnerability of the Prison Population
CDC Interim Guidance on Management of COVID-19 in Correctional and Detention Facilities
Model Cover Letter - EO Governors and Policy Guidance
Model Executive Order - Controlling COVID-19 in Custodial Facilities
COVID-19 Bail Motion (TEMPLATE)
COVID Release Motion
MI Executive Order Local Jails and Halt MDOC Intake
35b COVID-9 Sentence Reduction
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