Advancement Project National Office Sued Louisiana Officials for Unjust Bail System

Last night, we sued East Baton Rouge, Louisiana officials, seeking to end the immoral and unconstitutional practice of wealth-based incarceration in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison (EBRPP). The lawsuit was filed with Fair Fight Initiative and MacArthur Justice Center on behalf of four individuals who are being held inside of EBRPP and are unable to afford their bail. 

More than 1,400 people are currently incarcerated in EBRPP—approximately over 80% of whom are being held without a conviction. The lawsuit alleges that, by setting and strictly enforcing financial conditions for release without taking into account people’s ability to pay or considering non-financial alternatives, East Baton Rouge officials are effectively incarcerating hundreds of Louisianans for being too poor to pay for their freedom—a violation of their equal protection and due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.

The lawsuit follows the Dec. 6 death of Marcus Morris, a 61-year old who was reportedly being held on a $5,800 bond for alleged misdemeanor offenses. Morris is the 44^th person to have died in the jail since 2012—an alarming rate of death that is more than twice the national average.

Read more about our lawsuit and download a copy of it here.

Power and Democracy Program Director Joins New York State Reform Election Discussion on December 16

This Wednesday, December 16 at 6 p.m. ET, Jorge L. Vasquez, Jr., Power and Democracy Program Director at Advancement Project National Office, will join in a discussion on the most critical legislative and procedural changes needed to ensure smooth election administration and voting in 2021. As he and others discuss what needs to be done this year to improve the process of voting in New York State, this will be a discussion you don’t want to miss.

RSVP to attend the NYS Election Reform event here.

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