[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.54,0:00:14.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One summer afternoon in 2013,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.16,0:00:17.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,DC police detained, questioned\Nand searched a man
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.31,0:00:20.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who appeared suspicious\Nand potentially dangerous.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.08,0:00:25.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This wasn't what I was wearing\Nthe day of the detention, to be fair,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.74,0:00:27.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I have a picture of that as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.32,0:00:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know it's very frightening --\Ntry to remain calm.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.04,0:00:32.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.16,0:00:34.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At this time, I was interning
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.60,0:00:37.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the Public Defender Service\Nin Washington DC,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.36,0:00:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was visiting\Na police station for work.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.80,0:00:40.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was on my way out,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.99,0:00:42.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and before I could make it to my car,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.00,0:00:45.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two police cars pulled up\Nto block my exit,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.33,0:00:47.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an officer approached me from behind.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.68,0:00:49.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He told me to stop, take my backpack off
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.98,0:00:53.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put my hands on the police car\Nparked next to us.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.49,0:00:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About a dozen officers\Nthen gathered near us.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.51,0:00:57.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of them had handguns,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.78,0:00:59.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some had assault rifles.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.14,0:01:00.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They rifled through my backpack.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.90,0:01:02.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They patted me down.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.33,0:01:04.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They took pictures of me\Nspread on the police car,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.72,0:01:05.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they laughed.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.90,0:01:07.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as all this was happening --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.46,0:01:10.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as I was on the police car trying\Nto ignore the shaking in my legs,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.73,0:01:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to think clearly\Nabout what I should do --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.09,0:01:15.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something stuck out to me as odd.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.19,0:01:17.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I look at myself in this photo,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.20,0:01:19.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I were to describe myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.06,0:01:20.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think I'd say something like,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.87,0:01:26.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"19-year-old Indian male,\Nbright T-shirt, wearing glasses."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.29,0:01:28.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they weren't including\Nany of these details.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.59,0:01:30.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Into their police radios\Nas they described me,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.87,0:01:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they kept saying, "Middle Eastern\Nmale with a backpack.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.52,0:01:35.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Middle Eastern male with a backpack."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.58,0:01:38.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this description carried on\Ninto their police reports.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.18,0:01:43.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I never expected to be described\Nby my own government in these terms:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.81,0:01:45.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"lurking,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.06,0:01:47.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"nefarious,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.59,0:01:49.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"terrorist."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.78,0:01:51.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the detention dragged on like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.74,0:01:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They sent dogs trained to smell explosives\Nto sweep the area I'd been in.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.64,0:01:59.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They called the federal government\Nto see if I was on any watch lists.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.10,0:02:01.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They sent a couple of detectives\Nto cross-examine me on why,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.97,0:02:04.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I claimed I had nothing to hide,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.11,0:02:06.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wouldn't consent to a search of my car.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.18,0:02:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I could see\Nthey weren't happy with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.26,0:02:11.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I felt I had no way of knowing\Nwhat they'd want to do next.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.37,0:02:14.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At one point, the officer\Nwho patted me down
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.29,0:02:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scanned the side of the police station\Nto see where the security camera was
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.85,0:02:20.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see how much of this\Nwas being recorded.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.74,0:02:21.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when he did that,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.94,0:02:25.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it really sank in how completely\NI was at their mercy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.43,0:02:27.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think we're all normalized\Nfrom a young age
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.88,0:02:31.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the idea of police officers\Nand arrests and handcuffs,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.65,0:02:35.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it's easy to forget how demeaning\Nand coercive a thing it is
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.62,0:02:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to seize control over\Nanother person's body.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.55,0:02:40.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know it sounds like\Nthe point of my story
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.62,0:02:43.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is how badly treated I was\Nbecause of my race --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.08,0:02:46.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yes, I don't think I would've been\Ndetained if I were white.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.23,0:02:48.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But actually, what I have in mind\Ntoday is something else.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.99,0:02:51.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I have in mind is how\Nmuch worse things might've been
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.73,0:02:52.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I weren't affluent.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.92,0:02:55.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, they thought I might be trying\Nto plant an explosive,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.86,0:02:59.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they investigated that possibility\Nfor an hour and a half,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.06,0:03:00.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I was never put in handcuffs,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.79,0:03:02.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was never taken to a jail cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.83,0:03:06.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think if I were from one of Washington\NDC's poor communities of color,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.91,0:03:09.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they thought I was\Nendangering officers' lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.36,0:03:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things might've ended differently.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.00,0:03:14.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact, in our system, I think\Nit's better to be an affluent person
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.43,0:03:16.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,suspected of trying\Nto blow up a police station
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.74,0:03:18.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than it is to be a poor person
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.44,0:03:21.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who's suspected of much,\Nmuch less than this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.12,0:03:23.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to give you an example\Nfrom my current work.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.07,0:03:27.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right now, I'm working\Nat a civil rights organization in DC,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.34,0:03:29.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called Equal Justice Under Law.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.70,0:03:32.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me start by asking you all a question.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.63,0:03:35.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many of you have ever gotten\Na parking ticket in your life?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.64,0:03:36.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Raise your hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.83,0:03:38.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah. So have I.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.80,0:03:40.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when I had to pay it,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.16,0:03:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it felt annoying and it felt bad,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.21,0:03:44.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I paid it and I moved on.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.15,0:03:46.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm guessing most of you\Nhave paid your tickets as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.38,0:03:51.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what would happen if you\Ncouldn't afford the amount on the ticket
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.69,0:03:54.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and your family doesn't have\Nthe money either, what happens then?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.88,0:03:57.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, one thing that's not supposed\Nto happen under the law is,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.90,0:04:00.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're not supposed to be\Narrested and jailed
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.02,0:04:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply because you can't afford to pay.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.14,0:04:03.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's illegal under federal law.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.97,0:04:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that's what local governments\Nacross the country are doing
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.92,0:04:08.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to people who are poor.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.10,0:04:11.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so many of our lawsuits\Nat Equal Justice Under Law
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.05,0:04:13.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,target these modern-day debtors' prisons.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.53,0:04:17.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of our cases is against\NFerguson, Missouri.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.28,0:04:19.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I know when I say Ferguson,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.12,0:04:21.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,many of you will think of police violence.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.24,0:04:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But today I want to talk\Nabout a different aspect
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.56,0:04:27.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the relationship between\Ntheir police force and their citizens.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.05,0:04:30.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ferguson was issuing an average\Nof over two arrest warrants,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.60,0:04:32.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,per person, per year,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.64,0:04:34.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mostly for unpaid debt to the courts.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.76,0:04:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I imagine what that would feel like\Nif, every time I left my house,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.80,0:04:42.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was a chance a police officer\Nwould run my license plate,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.93,0:04:44.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see a warrant for unpaid debt,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.64,0:04:46.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seize my body they way the did in DC
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.80,0:04:48.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then take me to a jail cell,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.74,0:04:50.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel a little sick.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.60,0:04:54.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've met many of the people in Ferguson\Nwho have experienced this,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.78,0:04:56.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've heard some of their stories.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.59,0:04:57.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Ferguson's jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.98,0:05:01.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in each small cell,\Nthere's a bunk bed and a toilet,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.11,0:05:03.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they'd pack four people\Ninto each cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.44,0:05:06.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there'd be two people on the bunks\Nand two people on the floor,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.58,0:05:09.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one with nowhere to go except\Nright next to the filthy toilet,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.53,0:05:10.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was never cleaned.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.71,0:05:12.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, the whole cell was never cleaned,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.90,0:05:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the floor and the walls were lined\Nwith blood and mucus.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.85,0:05:17.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No water to drink,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.02,0:05:20.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except coming out of a spigot\Nconnected to the toilet.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.75,0:05:22.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The water looked and tasted dirty,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.49,0:05:24.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was never enough food,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.03,0:05:25.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,never any showers,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.60,0:05:28.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,women menstruating\Nwithout any hygiene products,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.42,0:05:30.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no medical attention whatsoever.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.14,0:05:32.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I asked a woman\Nabout medical attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.34,0:05:34.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she laughed, and she said, "Oh, no, no.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.76,0:05:37.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only attention you get\Nfrom the guards in there is sexual."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.60,0:05:41.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, they'd take the debtors\Nto this place and they'd say,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.34,0:05:44.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We're not letting you leave\Nuntil you make a payment on your debt."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.90,0:05:47.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you could -- if you\Ncould call a family member
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.56,0:05:49.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who could somehow come up with some money,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.72,0:05:51.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then maybe you were out.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.14,0:05:53.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If it was enough money, you were out.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.32,0:05:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if it wasn't, you'd stay there\Nfor days or weeks,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.66,0:05:59.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and every day the guards\Nwould come down to the cells
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.47,0:06:02.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and haggle with the debtors\Nabout the price of release that day.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.38,0:06:07.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'd stay until, at some point,\Nthe jail would be booked to capacity,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.53,0:06:09.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they'd want to book someone new in.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.50,0:06:11.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at that point, they'd think,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.09,0:06:13.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"OK, it's unlikely this person\Ncan come up with the money,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.87,0:06:15.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's more likely this new person will."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.75,0:06:18.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're out, they're in,\Nand the machine kept moving like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.76,0:06:20.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met a man who,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.80,0:06:25.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nine years ago, was arrested\Nfor panhandling in a Walgreens.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.10,0:06:29.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He couldn't afford his fines\Nand his court fees from that case.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.18,0:06:32.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When he was young\Nhe survived a house fire,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.20,0:06:35.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only because he jumped out\Nof the third-story window to escape.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.19,0:06:37.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that fall left him\Nwith damage to his brain
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.42,0:06:39.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and several parts of this body,\Nincluding his leg.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.88,0:06:41.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he can't work,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.06,0:06:43.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he relies on social security\Npayments to survive.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.59,0:06:45.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I met him in his apartment,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.30,0:06:48.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he had nothing of value there --\Nnot even food in his fridge.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.20,0:06:49.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's chronically hungry.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.39,0:06:52.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He had nothing of value in his apartment\Nexcept a small piece of cardboard
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.89,0:06:55.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on which he'd written\Nthe names of his children.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.15,0:06:57.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He cherished this a lot.\NHe was happy to show it to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.75,0:07:00.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But he can't pay his fines and fees\Nbecause he has nothing to give.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.94,0:07:04.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the last nine years,\Nhe's been arrested 13 times,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.32,0:07:08.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and jailed for a total of 130 days\Non that panhandling case.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.42,0:07:12.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of those stretches lasted 45 days.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.49,0:07:16.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just imagine spending from right now\Nuntil sometime in June
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.92,0:07:19.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the place that I described to you\Na few moments ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.38,0:07:25.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He told me about all the suicide attempts\Nhe's seen in Ferguson's jail;
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.48,0:07:27.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the time a man found\Na way to hang himself
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.78,0:07:29.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out of reach of the other inmates,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.46,0:07:32.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so all they could do\Nwas yell and yell and yell,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.65,0:07:34.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to get the guards' attention
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.41,0:07:36.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they could come down and cut him down.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.43,0:07:39.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he told me that it took the guards\Nover five minutes to respond,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.89,0:07:42.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when they came,\Nthe man was unconscious.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.18,0:07:45.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they called the paramedics\Nand the paramedics went to the cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.38,0:07:46.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They said, "He'll be OK,"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.73,0:07:48.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they just left him there on the floor.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.96,0:07:52.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I heard many stories like this\Nand they shouldn't have surprised me,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.28,0:07:55.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because suicide is the single leading\Ncause of death in our local jails.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.61,0:07:59.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is related to the lack\Nof mental health care in our jails.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.62,0:08:03.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met a woman, single mother of three,\Nmaking seven dollars an hour.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.57,0:08:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She relies on food stamps\Nto feed herself and her children.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.87,0:08:08.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About a decade ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.44,0:08:12.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she got a couple of traffic tickets\Nand a minor theft charge,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.22,0:08:14.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she can't afford her fines\Nand fees on those cases.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.49,0:08:18.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since then, she's been jailed\Nabout 10 times on those cases,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.01,0:08:21.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but she has schizophrenia\Nand bipolar disorder,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.32,0:08:23.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she needs medication every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.49,0:08:26.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She doesn't have access\Nto those medications in Ferguson's jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.55,0:08:28.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because no one has access\Nto their medications.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.79,0:08:32.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She told me about what it was like\Nto spend two weeks in a cage,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.84,0:08:36.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hallucinating people and shadows\Nand hearing voices,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.42,0:08:39.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,begging for the medication\Nthat would make it all stop,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.04,0:08:40.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only to be ignored.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.13,0:08:42.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this isn't anomalous, either:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.00,0:08:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thirty percent of women in our local jails\Nhave serious mental health needs
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.55,0:08:47.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like hers,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.73,0:08:52.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but only one in six receives\Nany mental health care while in jail.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.27,0:08:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, I heard all these stories\Nabout this grotesque dungeon
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.12,0:08:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Ferguson was operating\Nfor its debtors,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.34,0:09:00.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when it came time\Nfor me to actually see it
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.66,0:09:02.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to go visit Ferguson's jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.64,0:09:04.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not sure what I was expecting to see,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.70,0:09:06.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I wasn't expecting this.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.26,0:09:09.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's an ordinary government building.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.12,0:09:11.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could be a post office or a school.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.60,0:09:15.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It reminded me that these illegal\Nextortion schemes
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.31,0:09:17.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aren't being run somewhere in the shadows,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.43,0:09:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're being run out in the open\Nby our public officials.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.17,0:09:21.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're a matter of public policy.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.89,0:09:24.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this reminded me\Nthat poverty jailing in general,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.75,0:09:26.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even outside the debtors' prison context,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.98,0:09:29.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plays a very visible and central role\Nin our justice system.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.58,0:09:32.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I have in mind is our policy of bail.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.81,0:09:35.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In our system, whether\Nyou're detained or free,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.39,0:09:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pending trial is not a matter\Nof how dangerous you are
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.54,0:09:40.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or how much of a flight risk you pose.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.82,0:09:43.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a matter of whether you can afford\Nto post your bail amount.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.93,0:09:46.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Bill Cosby, whose bail\Nwas set at a million dollars,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.66,0:09:50.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,immediately writes the check,\Nand doesn't spend a second in a jail cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.15,0:09:51.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Sandra Bland, who died in jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.90,0:09:55.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was only there because her family\Nwas unable to come up with 500 dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.92,0:09:59.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, there are half a million\NSandra Blands across the country --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.34,0:10:01.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,500,000 people who are in jail right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.62,0:10:04.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only because they can't afford\Ntheir bail amount.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.31,0:10:07.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're told that our jails\Nare places for criminals,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.39,0:10:09.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but statistically that's not the case:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.43,0:10:13.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,three out of every five people\Nin jail right now are there pretrial.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.75,0:10:15.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They haven't been convicted of any crime;
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.96,0:10:18.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they haven't pled guilty to any offense.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.11,0:10:20.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right here in San Francisco,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.48,0:10:23.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,85 percent of the inmates\Nin our jail in San Francisco
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.89,0:10:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are pretrial detainees.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.66,0:10:29.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This means San Francisco is spending\Nsomething like 80 million dollars
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.07,0:10:30.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every year
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.26,0:10:31.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to fund pretrial detention.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.00,0:10:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many of these people who are in jail\Nonly because they can't post bail
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.44,0:10:40.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are facing allegations so minor
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.71,0:10:44.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the amount of time it would take\Nfor them to sit waiting for trial
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.12,0:10:47.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is longer than the sentence\Nthey would receive if convicted,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.20,0:10:49.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means they're guaranteed\Nto get out faster
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.49,0:10:50.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they just plead guilty.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.80,0:10:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now the choice is:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.38,0:10:55.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Should I stay here in this horrible place,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.28,0:10:57.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,away from my family and my dependents,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.41,0:10:59.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,almost guaranteed to lose my job,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.91,0:11:01.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then fight the charges?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.56,0:11:05.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or should I just plead guilty to whatever\Nthe prosecutor wants and get out?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.15,0:11:08.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at this point, they're pretrial\Ndetainees, not criminals.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.11,0:11:11.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But once they take that plea deal,\Nwe'll call them criminals,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.02,0:11:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though an affluent person\Nwould never have been in this situation,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.43,0:11:17.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because an affluent person\Nwould have simply been bailed out.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.33,0:11:19.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At this point you might be wondering,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.44,0:11:22.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"This guy's in the inspiration section,\Nwhat is he doing --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.26,0:11:23.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.44,0:11:26.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"This is extremely depressing.\NI want my money back."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.27,0:11:27.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.50,0:11:29.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in actuality,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.92,0:11:34.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I find talking about jailing much less\Ndepressing than the alternative,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.34,0:11:36.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I think if we don't talk\Nabout these issues
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.80,0:11:39.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and collectively change\Nhow we think about jailing,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.22,0:11:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the end of all of our lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.75,0:11:43.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll still have jails full of poor people\Nwho don't belong there.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.91,0:11:45.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That really is depressing to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.48,0:11:48.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what's exciting to me is the thought\Nthat these stories can move us
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.93,0:11:50.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to think about jailing in different terms.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.00,0:11:54.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not in sterile policy terms\Nlike "mass incarceration,"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.40,0:11:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or "sentencing of nonviolent offenders,"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.40,0:11:57.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in human terms.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.60,0:12:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we put a human being in a cage\Nfor days or weeks or months
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.20,0:12:03.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even years,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.67,0:12:06.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what are we doing\Nto that person's mind and body?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.04,0:12:08.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Under what conditions\Nare we really willing to do that?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.33,0:12:12.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so if starting with a few\Nhundred of us in this room,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.16,0:12:15.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can commit to thinking about\Njailing in this different light,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.23,0:12:18.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then we can undo that normalization\NI was referring to earlier.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.73,0:12:21.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I leave you with anything today,\NI hope it's with the thought
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.79,0:12:24.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if we want anything\Nto fundamentally change --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.25,0:12:27.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not just to reform our policies\Non bail and fines and fees --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:27.55,0:12:30.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also to make sure that whatever\Nnew policies replace those
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.63,0:12:33.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't punish the poor and the marginalized\Nin their own new way.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.70,0:12:35.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we want that kind of change,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.36,0:12:37.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then this shift in thinking\Nis required of each of us.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.91,0:12:39.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.12,0:12:42.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)