[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.68,0:00:03.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One summer afternoon in 2013,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.30,0:00:06.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,DC police detained, questioned\Nand searched a man
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.45,0:00:09.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who appeared suspicious\Nand potentially dangerous.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.32,0:00:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This wasn't what I was wearing\Nthe day of the detention, to be fair,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.78,0:00:15.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I have a picture of that as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.63,0:00:18.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know it's very frightening --\Ntry to remain calm.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.35,0:00:19.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.47,0:00:21.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At this time, I was interning
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.92,0:00:24.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the Public Defender Service\Nin Washington DC,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.67,0:00:27.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was visiting\Na police station for work.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.11,0:00:28.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was on my way out,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.30,0:00:30.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and before I could make it to my car,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.31,0:00:32.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two police cars pulled up\Nto block my exit,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.64,0:00:34.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an officer approached me from behind.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.99,0:00:37.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He told me to stop, take my backpack off
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.29,0:00:40.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put my hands on the police car\Nparked next to us.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.80,0:00:43.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About a dozen officers\Nthen gathered near us.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.82,0:00:45.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of them had handguns,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.09,0:00:46.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some had assault rifles.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.45,0:00:48.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They rifled through my backpack.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.21,0:00:49.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They patted me down.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.64,0:00:52.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They took pictures of me\Nspread on the police car,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.03,0:00:53.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they laughed.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.21,0:00:54.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as all this was happening --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.77,0:00:58.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as I was on the police car trying\Nto ignore the shaking in my legs,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.04,0:01:00.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to think clearly\Nabout what I should do --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.40,0:01:02.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something stuck out to me as odd.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.43,0:01:04.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I look at myself in this photo,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.44,0:01:06.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I were to describe myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.30,0:01:08.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think I'd say something like,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.11,0:01:13.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"19-year-old Indian male,\Nbright T-shirt, wearing glasses."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.53,0:01:15.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they weren't including\Nany of these details.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.83,0:01:18.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Into their police radios\Nas they described me,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.11,0:01:20.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they kept saying, "Middle Eastern\Nmale with a backpack.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.76,0:01:22.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Middle Eastern male with a backpack."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.82,0:01:25.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this description carried on\Ninto their police reports.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.42,0:01:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I never expected to be described\Nby my own government in these terms:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.05,0:01:32.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"lurking,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.30,0:01:34.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"nefarious,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.83,0:01:36.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"terrorist."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.02,0:01:38.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the detention dragged on like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.98,0:01:42.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They sent dogs trained to smell explosives\Nto sweep the area I'd been in.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.88,0:01:46.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They called the federal government\Nto see if I was on any watch lists.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.34,0:01:49.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They sent a couple of detectives\Nto cross-examine me on why,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.21,0:01:51.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I claimed I had nothing to hide,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.35,0:01:53.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wouldn't consent to a search of my car.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.42,0:01:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I could see\Nthey weren't happy with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.51,0:01:58.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I felt I had no way of knowing\Nwhat they'd want to do next.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.61,0:02:01.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At one point, the officer\Nwho patted me down
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.53,0:02:05.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scanned the side of the police station\Nto see where the security camera was
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.09,0:02:07.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see how much of this\Nwas being recorded.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.98,0:02:09.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when he did that,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.18,0:02:12.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it really sank in how completely\NI was at their mercy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.67,0:02:15.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think we're all normalized\Nfrom a young age
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.12,0:02:18.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the idea of police officers\Nand arrests and handcuffs,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.89,0:02:22.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it's easy to forget how demeaning\Nand coercive a thing it is
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.86,0:02:25.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to seize control over\Nanother person's body.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.79,0:02:27.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know it sounds like\Nthe point of my story
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.86,0:02:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is how badly treated I was\Nbecause of my race --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.32,0:02:33.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yes, I don't think I would've been\Ndetained if I were white.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.47,0:02:36.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But actually, what I have in mind\Ntoday is something else.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.23,0:02:38.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I have in mind is how\Nmuch worse things might've been
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.97,0:02:40.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I weren't affluent.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.16,0:02:43.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, they thought I might be trying\Nto plant an explosive,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.10,0:02:46.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they investigated that possibility\Nfor an hour and a half,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.30,0:02:48.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I was never put in handcuffs,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.03,0:02:50.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was never taken to a jail cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.07,0:02:54.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think if I were from one of Washington\NDC's poor communities of color,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.15,0:02:56.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they thought I was\Nendangering officers' lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.60,0:02:58.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things might've ended differently.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.24,0:03:01.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact, in our system, I think\Nit's better to be an affluent person
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.67,0:03:03.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,suspected of trying\Nto blow up a police station
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.98,0:03:05.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than it is to be a poor person
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.68,0:03:08.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who's suspected of much,\Nmuch less than this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.36,0:03:10.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to give you an example\Nfrom my current work.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.31,0:03:14.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right now, I'm working\Nat a civil rights organization in DC,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.58,0:03:16.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called Equal Justice Under Law.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.94,0:03:19.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me start by asking you all a question.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.87,0:03:22.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many of you have ever gotten\Na parking ticket in your life?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.88,0:03:24.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Raise your hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.07,0:03:26.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah. So have I.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.04,0:03:27.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when I had to pay it,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.40,0:03:29.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it felt annoying and it felt bad,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.45,0:03:31.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I paid it and I moved on.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.39,0:03:34.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm guessing most of you\Nhave paid your tickets as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.62,0:03:38.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what would happen if you\Ncouldn't afford the amount on the ticket
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.93,0:03:42.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and your family doesn't have\Nthe money either, what happens then?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.12,0:03:45.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, one thing that's not supposed\Nto happen under the law is,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.14,0:03:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're not supposed to be\Narrested and jailed
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.26,0:03:49.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply because you can't afford to pay.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.38,0:03:51.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's illegal under federal law.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.21,0:03:54.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that's what local governments\Nacross the country are doing
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.16,0:03:55.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to people who are poor.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.34,0:03:58.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so many of our lawsuits\Nat Equal Justice Under Law
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.29,0:04:00.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,target these modern-day debtors' prisons.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.77,0:04:04.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of our cases is against\NFerguson, Missouri.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.52,0:04:06.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I know when I say Ferguson,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.36,0:04:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,many of you will think of police violence.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.49,0:04:10.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But today I want to talk\Nabout a different aspect
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.80,0:04:14.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the relationship between\Ntheir police force and their citizens.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.29,0:04:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ferguson was issuing an average\Nof over two arrest warrants,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.84,0:04:19.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,per person, per year,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.88,0:04:22.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mostly for unpaid debt to the courts.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.100,0:04:27.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I imagine what that would feel like\Nif, every time I left my house,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.04,0:04:30.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was a chance a police officer\Nwould run my license plate,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.17,0:04:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see a warrant for unpaid debt,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.88,0:04:34.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seize my body they way the did in DC
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.04,0:04:35.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then take me to a jail cell,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.98,0:04:37.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel a little sick.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.84,0:04:41.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've met many of the people in Ferguson\Nwho have experienced this,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.02,0:04:43.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've heard some of their stories.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.83,0:04:45.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Ferguson's jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.22,0:04:48.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in each small cell,\Nthere's a bunk bed and a toilet,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.35,0:04:50.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they pack four people into each cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.68,0:04:53.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there'd be two people on the bunks\Nand two people on the floor,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.82,0:04:56.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one with nowhere to go except\Nright next to the filthy toilet,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.77,0:04:57.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was never cleaned.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.95,0:05:00.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, the whole cell was never cleaned,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.14,0:05:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the floor and the walls were lined\Nwith blood and mucus.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.09,0:05:05.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No water to drink,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.26,0:05:07.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except coming out of a spigot\Nconnected to the toilet.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.99,0:05:09.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The water looked and tasted dirty,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.73,0:05:11.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was never enough food,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.27,0:05:12.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,never any showers.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.84,0:05:15.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Women menstruating\Nwithout any hygiene products --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.66,0:05:17.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no medical attention whatsoever.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.38,0:05:19.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I asked a woman\Nabout medical attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.58,0:05:21.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she laughed, and she said, "Oh, no, no.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.00,0:05:25.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only attention you get\Nfrom the guards in there is sexual."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.84,0:05:28.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, they'd take the debtors\Nto this place and they'd say,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.58,0:05:32.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We're not letting you leave\Nuntil you make a payment on your debt."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.14,0:05:34.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you could -- if you\Ncould call a family member
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.80,0:05:36.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who could somehow come up with some money,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.96,0:05:38.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then maybe you were out.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.38,0:05:40.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If it was enough money, you were out.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.56,0:05:43.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if it wasn't, you'd stay there\Nfor days or weeks,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.90,0:05:46.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and every day the guards\Nwould come down to the cells
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.71,0:05:50.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and haggle with the debtors\Nabout the price of release that day.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.62,0:05:54.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'd stay until, at some point,\Nthe jail would be booked to capacity,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.77,0:05:56.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they'd want to book someone new in.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.74,0:05:58.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at that point, they'd think,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.33,0:06:01.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"OK, it's unlikely this person\Ncan come up with the money,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.11,0:06:02.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's more likely this new person will."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.99,0:06:05.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're out, they're in,\Nand the machine kept moving like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.100,0:06:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met a man who,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.04,0:06:12.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nine years ago, was arrested\Nfor panhandling in a Walgreens.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.34,0:06:16.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He couldn't afford his fines\Nand his court fees from that case.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.42,0:06:19.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When he was young\Nhe survived a house fire,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.44,0:06:22.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only because he jumped out\Nof the third-story window to escape.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.43,0:06:24.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that fall left him\Nwith damage to his brain
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.66,0:06:27.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and several parts of this body,\Nincluding his leg.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.12,0:06:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he can't work,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.30,0:06:30.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he relies on social security\Npayments to survive.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.83,0:06:32.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I met him in his apartment,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.54,0:06:35.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he had nothing of value there --\Nnot even food in his fridge.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.44,0:06:36.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's chronically hungry.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.63,0:06:40.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He had nothing of value in his apartment\Nexcept a small piece of cardboard
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.13,0:06:42.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on which he'd written\Nthe names of children.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.24,0:06:44.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He cherished this a lot.\NHe was happy to show it to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.86,0:06:48.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But he can't pay his fines and fees\Nbecause he has nothing to give.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.12,0:06:51.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the last nine years,\Nhe's been arrested 13 times,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.56,0:06:55.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and jailed for a total of 130 days\Non that panhandling case.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.66,0:06:59.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of those stretches lasted 45 days.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.73,0:07:04.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just imagine spending from right now\Nuntil sometime in June
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.16,0:07:06.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the place that I described to you\Na few moments ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.62,0:07:12.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He told me about all the suicide attempts\Nhe's seen in Ferguson's jail;
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.72,0:07:14.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the time a man found\Na way to hang himself
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.02,0:07:16.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out of reach of the other inmates,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.70,0:07:19.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so all they could do\Nwas yell and yell and yell,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.89,0:07:21.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to get the guards' attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.65,0:07:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they could come down and cut him down.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.67,0:07:27.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he told me that it took the guards\Nover five minutes to respond,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.13,0:07:29.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when they came,\Nthe man was unconscious.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.42,0:07:32.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they called the paramedics\Nand the paramedics went to the cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.62,0:07:33.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They said, "He'll be OK,"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.97,0:07:36.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they just left him there on the floor.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.20,0:07:39.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I heard many stories like this\Nand they shouldn't have surprised me,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.52,0:07:43.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because suicide is the single leading\Ncause of death in our local jails.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.85,0:07:46.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is related to the lack\Nof mental health care in our jails.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.86,0:07:50.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met a woman, single mother of three,\Nmaking seven dollars an hour.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.81,0:07:53.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She relies on food stamps\Nto feed herself and her children.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.11,0:07:55.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About a decade ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.68,0:07:59.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she got a couple of traffic tickets\Nand a minor theft charge,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.46,0:08:02.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she can't afford her fines\Nand fees on those cases.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.73,0:08:06.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since then, she's been jailed\Nabout 10 times on those cases,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.25,0:08:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but she has schizophrenia\Nand bipolar disorder,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.56,0:08:10.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she needs medication every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.73,0:08:13.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She doesn't have access\Nto those medications in Ferguson's jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.79,0:08:16.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because no one has access\Nto their medications.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.03,0:08:20.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She told me about what it was like\Nto spend two weeks in a cage,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.08,0:08:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hallucinating people and shadows\Nand hearing voices,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.66,0:08:26.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,begging for the medication\Nthat would make it all stop,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.28,0:08:27.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only to be ignored.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.37,0:08:30.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this isn't anomalous, either:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.24,0:08:33.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thirty percent of women in our local jails\Nhave serious mental health needs
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.79,0:08:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like hers,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.97,0:08:39.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but only one in six receives\Nany mental health care while in jail.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.51,0:08:43.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, I heard all these stories\Nabout this grotesque dungeon
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.36,0:08:45.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Ferguson was operating\Nfor its debtors,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.58,0:08:47.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when it came time\Nfor me to actually see it
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.90,0:08:49.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to go visit Ferguson's jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.88,0:08:51.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not sure what I was expecting to see,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.94,0:08:53.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I wasn't expecting this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.50,0:08:56.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's an ordinary government building.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.36,0:08:58.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could be a post office or a school.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.84,0:09:02.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It reminded me that these illegal\Nextortion schemes
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.55,0:09:04.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aren't being run somewhere in the shadows,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.67,0:09:07.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're being run out in the open\Nby our public officials.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.41,0:09:09.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're a matter of public policy.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.13,0:09:11.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this reminded me\Nthat poverty jailing in general,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.99,0:09:14.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even outside the debtors' prison context,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.22,0:09:17.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plays a very visible and central role\Nin our justice system.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.82,0:09:20.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I have in mind is our policy of bail.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.05,0:09:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In our system, whether\Nyou're detained or free,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.63,0:09:25.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pending trial is not a matter\Nof how dangerous you are
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.78,0:09:28.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or how much of a flight risk you pose.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.06,0:09:31.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a matter of whether you can afford\Nto post your bail amount.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.17,0:09:33.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Bill Cosby, whose bail\Nwas set at a million dollars,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.90,0:09:37.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,immediately writes the check,\Nand doesn't spend a second in a jail cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.39,0:09:39.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Sandra Bland, who died in jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.14,0:09:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was only there because her family\Nwas unable to come up with 500 dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.16,0:09:46.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, there are half a million\NSandra Blands across the country --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.58,0:09:48.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,500,000 people who are in jail right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.86,0:09:51.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only because they can't afford\Ntheir bail amount.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.55,0:09:54.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're told that our jails\Nare places for criminals,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.63,0:09:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but statistically that's not the case:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.67,0:10:00.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,three out of every five people\Nin jail right now are there pretrial.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.99,0:10:03.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They haven't been convicted of any crime;
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.20,0:10:05.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they haven't pled guilty to any offense.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.35,0:10:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right here in San Francisco,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.72,0:10:11.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,85 percent of the inmates\Nin our jail in San Francisco
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.13,0:10:12.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are pretrial detainees.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.90,0:10:16.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This means San Francisco is spending\Nsomething like 80 million dollars
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.31,0:10:17.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every year
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.50,0:10:19.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to fund pretrial detention.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.24,0:10:25.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many of these people who are in jail\Nonly because they can't post bail
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.68,0:10:27.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are facing allegations so minor
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.95,0:10:31.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the amount of time it would take\Nfor them to sit waiting for trial
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.36,0:10:34.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is longer than the sentence\Nthey would receive if convicted,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.44,0:10:36.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means they're guaranteed\Nto get out faster
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.73,0:10:38.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they just plead guilty.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.04,0:10:39.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now the choice is:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.62,0:10:42.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Should I stay here in this horrible place,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.52,0:10:44.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,away from my family and my dependents,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.65,0:10:47.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,almost guaranteed to lose my job,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.15,0:10:48.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then fight the charges?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.80,0:10:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or should I just plead guilty to whatever\Nthe prosecutor wants and get out?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.39,0:10:55.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at this point, they're pretrial\Ndetainees, not criminals.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.35,0:10:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But once they take that plea deal,\Nwe'll call them criminals,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.26,0:11:01.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though an affluent person\Nwould never have been in this situation,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.67,0:11:04.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because an affluent person\Nwould have simply been bailed out.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.57,0:11:06.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At this point you might be wondering,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.68,0:11:09.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"This guy's in the inspiration section,\Nwhat is he doing --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.50,0:11:10.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.68,0:11:13.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"This is extremely depressing.\NI want my money back."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.51,0:11:14.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.74,0:11:17.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in actuality,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.16,0:11:21.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I find talking about jailing much less\Ndepressing than the alternative,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.58,0:11:24.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I think if we don't talk\Nabout these issues
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.04,0:11:26.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and collectively change\Nhow we think about jailing,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.46,0:11:27.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the end of all of our lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.99,0:11:31.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll still have jails full of poor people\Nwho don't belong there.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.15,0:11:32.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That really is depressing to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.72,0:11:36.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what's exciting to me is the thought\Nthat these stories can moves us
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.17,0:11:38.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to think about jailing in different terms.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.24,0:11:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not in sterile policy terms\Nlike "mass incarceration,"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.64,0:11:43.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or "sentencing of nonviolent offenders,"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.64,0:11:44.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in human terms.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.84,0:11:49.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we put a human being in a cage\Nfor days or weeks or months
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.44,0:11:50.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even years,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.91,0:11:53.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what are we doing\Nto that person's mind and body?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.28,0:11:56.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Under what conditions\Nare we really willing to do that?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.57,0:11:59.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so if starting with a few\Nhundred of us in this room,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.40,0:12:02.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can commit to thinking about\Njailing in this different light,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.47,0:12:05.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then we can undo that normalization\NI was referring to earlier.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.97,0:12:09.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I leave you with anything today,\NI hope it's with the thought
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.03,0:12:11.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if we want anything\Nto fundamentally change --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.49,0:12:14.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not just to reform our policies\Non bail and fines and fees --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.79,0:12:17.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also to make sure that whatever\Nnew policies replace those
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.87,0:12:20.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't punish the poor and the marginalized\Nin their own new way.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.94,0:12:22.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we want that kind of change,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.60,0:12:25.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then this shift in thinking\Nis required of each of us.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.15,0:12:26.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.36,0:12:29.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)