ADVISORY: CONGRESSMAN TED W. LIEU INTRODUCES THE “NO MONEY BAIL ACT OF 2016”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN TED W. LIEU INTRODUCES THE “NO MONEY BAIL ACT OF 2016”
Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, Brenda Lawrence, Ruben Gallego to co-host press conference as legislation original co-sponsors

WHO
Congressman Ted Lieu (D|CA-33), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D|NJ-12),
Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D|MI-14), Congressman Ruben Gallego (D|AZ-7)

PERSONAL VICTIM STORY BY
Qiana Williams
Shannon Wise

REMARKS BY
The Center for American Progress, the Drug Policy Alliance, the National Legal Aide & Defender Association, the Pretrial Justice Institute

WHAT
Press Conference Introducing The “No Money Bail Act of 2016”

WHERE
Cannon House Office Building, Room #210
&
LIVE on Periscope with Parachute TV @ParachuteTV1

WHEN
Wednesday, February 24 | 9:15AM

On February 24, 2016, Congressman Ted Lieu will host a public press conference introducing the “No Money Bail Act of 2016,”
a bail reform bill that seeks to eliminate the use of money bail because no one should be held in jail solely because of inability to pay bail.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
More than 2.3 million people are incarcerated in America, of which 450,000 individuals have never been convicted of a crime and are often detained because they cannot afford to pay bail. America’s current money bail system rejects the principle of innocent until proven guilty. Many people decide to plead guilty purely to get out of jail because they cannot afford bail. Throughout the nation, those with money can buy their freedom while poor defendants stay behind bars awaiting trial. Congressman Lieu’s “No Money Bail Act” ends the money bail system because America should not be a country where freedom is based on income.

BAIL ACT 2016 ENDORSERS
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) | The Southern Poverty Law Center
Equal Justice Under Law | The Pretrial Justice Institute
The Drug Policy Alliance | LatinoJustice PRLDEF | The Sentencing Project
Color of Change | The National Legal Aid & Defender Association
National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies | ArchCity Defenders | The Southern Center for Human Rights