Taxing the Poor

When I worked the arraignment calendar as a public defender, I had countless clients who were in custody for minor misdemeanors. Most would agree to a plea including heavy fines and cumbersome probation conditions just so they could get out of jail and return to their families and jobs. Even those with strong defenses were forced to enter pleas because they couldn’t afford bail and their constitutional right to a speedy trial wouldn’t kick in for 30 days.

The rare clients that bravely decided on a not guilty plea would hear from the judge that they would stay in jail until the trial date only to receive credit for time served before they could present any evidence to a jury. The poor, mentally ill and people of color are overwhelmingly being victimized by the court system and, though there are a few positive changes on the horizon, we need to do better.

As Mahatma Ghandi said, “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” Those who claim a desire to make America great should take those words to heart.

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