Free The People Project
The Free the People Project is a community-driven response to the problem of mass incarceration in King County.
What we do:
We show up to support the community and to hold judges and lawyers accountable for what they do in court. All too often judges and prosecutors make decisions when nobody is looking - and there is nobody from the community to hold them accountable. This lack of accountability leads to more BIPOC, low-income, queer and disabled folks in jail, often while merely accused of a crime.
That’s where we come in: no longer will judges and prosecutors hold our fellow community members in jail without first bearing witness to the community support for the accused person in the courtroom.
What we’re here for:
• Show up as a community to support our community behind bars, until they get free.
• Bring to light the way racism, classicism, and colonialism intersect in systems of incarceration, specifically as it relates to continue to maintain behind bars BIPOC community members.
• Build with community members affected by the criminal legal system to address abuses and gain more access to legal knowledge.
• Expose community members not affected by the criminal legal system to the unseen ways the system dehumanizes accused people and reinforces systems of oppression.
Bail = Ransom
Bail is ransom. Once arrested, a judge determines if if an accused person is released, or will have to pay money to get out of jail, while their case is pending. If a judge releases someone on their promise to show back up, it is called “PR”, i.e. Personal Recognizance. A judge can also set a bail, i.e. amount of money that must be paid by the accused person to get out of jail. If a person is unable to pay the full bail amount, they contract with a bondsman to post a “bond” - this requires the accused person to t put up 10% of the bail amount in cash and have some collateral (house, car, etc.) to ensure the bondsman covers the cost in case the accused person does not appear in court in the future.
What about changing the law? Every state is different, but here in Washington state the law makes clear there is a “presumption of release.” This means that the law directs the judge to release an accused person without bail unless there is a likelihood that they (1) will not return to their next court date, (2) will interfere with witnesses, or (3) will commit a “violent crime” in the future. The law is already on our side – we need the judges to follow it!
What happens when nobody is watching “My name is Jena, I am a proud, Black 25-year-old mother of a beautiful six-month-old son. I have been the victim of the judicial injustice when it comes to bail. It wasn’t just me that suffered from the cruel systematic proceeding of the courts but my family as well. When the court wrongfully set my bail at $30,000, I was kept away from my family, my child. I suffer the trauma of being arrested every day and not released on my own personal recognizance. I wasn’t a “flight risk” but a Seattle resident. Not a “threat to the community” but a phenomenal member to society. To the system all you are is a statistic to the already biased members that “uphold the law.” I saw firsthand white defendants receive a lower bail from the judge. I saw the prosecutor argue against Black defendants’ release and not object to a white defendant’s release argument. This is where you come in. By coming to court and openly observing judges they are put on notice that the community is watching and are less likely to stray from the law or participate in racist or problematic behavior. You can learn about the legal system, hold judges accountable and help free the people!”
Get Involved!
You can join our project lead and other FTP2 volunteers to bring community accountability to the courtroom – learn more and sign up for shifts to observe bail hearings here: