The COVID-19 crisis has lifted a magnifying glass to some of the greatest, yet systematically ignored challenges and injustices of our time, especially criminal justice reform in the United States. The pandemic has highlighted the brokenness of the cash bail system and the calls for releasing non-violent offenders, now with greater urgency than ever before. Highly-vulnerable segments of this already vulnerable population are succumbing to this virus at unprecedented rates due to scarcity of testing kits and personal protective equipment, and the prevalence of close-quarters confinement and diminished quality of life in our nation's prisons - not to mention their system-impacted families and friends. The time for bold action is now.
Who are the leaders at the forefront of this movement? What are the innovative, safe solutions we can implement to protect these vulnerable populations in the short-term, while advocating for comprehensive reform in the long-term? How can we support and amplify the voices of those who have been deemed voiceless?