Nonprofits bail people out of Detroit jails amid pandemic
DETROIT Dozens of people in the Detroit area were bailed out of jail during the coronavirus pandemic by nonprofits pushing to dismantle the cash bail system. Roughly 55 people in the area have been bailed out of jail during the pandemic by Michigan Liberation and The Bail Project, a national nonprofit with an office within the Detroit Justice Center. Under Michigan law, cash bail can be used for any criminal offense. The group was leading a coalition of organizations planning a Mothers Day bailout event for Black women. Loomis Quinlan said Michigan Liberation considers cases of bail up to $7,500, but $2,500 is the highest single amount the organization has paid so far.