How I Decided To Take On The U.S. Bail System

Many of the two million prisoners in the U.S. are nonviolent offenders awaiting trial. Oakland, California–based Promise has an audacious solution: Work with cities and counties to release them, and provide an app and support system to keep them current with court appointments and hearings. Promise is operating in Alameda County; co-founder and CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins expects launches in several more counties this year.

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PHAEDRA ELLIS-LAMKINS/PROMISE

A New Way Forward

“The current system of bail punishes those who can least afford it,” says Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins. “It creates chaos from which no one benefits.” Her startup aspires to change that.

I came out of a community that didn’t have many resources. There were violent households. Families doomed by drugs. My life was fortunate. I did labor organizing for South Bay Labor Council. I advised Prince on digital-rights management. I ran revenue at Honor, a home health care startup.

Then a friend called and said there were bounty hunters at her door. Someone she loved had missed a hearing, and there was a warrant out for his arrest. He was so scared. He just wanted to keep working, to support his family. He had no money for a lawyer or bail.

We called the public defender and had it fixed in five minutes. But many people don’t have the resources to work the system. The reality is that it’s broken. People of color are being arrested for sleeping. For walking. For shopping.