Our justice system is founded on the presumption of innocence, but if you cannot afford bail, you are treated as guilty before you get your day in court. Tying justice to money creates a two-tiered system where the rich and poor are treated differently based entirely on their wealth. This system disproportionately harms our Black communities.
Families without the means to help their loved ones often contact The Bail Project for bail assistance. For many, it’s a choice between paying rent or bail, having money for groceries or bringing their loved one home. This is not right.
The Bail Project, has helped more than 3,500 Louisvillians, and over 20,000 people nationwide.
Importantly, this charitable organization does more than just provide bail – they also provide free transportation to court and referrals to social services for housing, mental health, substance use, and other needs.
The Bail Project is living out a calling to provide for neighbors in need, to offer a helping hand to people in the most desperate moments of their lives. Their work is a living testimony to the redemptive power that we can all have in each other’s lives.
As Americans, we believe in the presumption of innocence and in the importance of everyone, of any income, being treated equally under the law.
As faith leaders, we believe in helping our neighbors and in offering redemption and a second chance.
And this is why we stand with The Bail Project. Please join with us in opposing HB 313.
By providing bail assistance to people who cannot afford it, The Bail Project does not fix the unjust system we have created. But it does provide grace, charity and compassion in the midst of that unjust system. It should be lauded, not restricted.
Rev. Aletha Fields
Bates Memorial
National Council of Jewish Women, Louisville Section
Jemilla Barakaat
Muslim African American Family Association ( M.A.A.F.A)
The Rev. Karl Ruttan
Episcopal Church of the Advent
Rev. Dr. Ann J. Deibert
Central Presbyterian Church
Rev. Mark Baridon
Central Presbyterian Church
Lindsy Wallace
Minister
Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Kumar Rashad
JCTA/KEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Political Concerns Working Group of Loretto LINK
The Very Rev. Matthew Bradley Dean
Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral
Rev. Kent H. Gilbert,
Pastor of Union Church
The Member Bodies of the Kentucky Council of Churches
Rev. Elwood Sturtevant
Minister Emeritus,
All Peoples, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Andrew Kang Bartlett
National Associate,
Presbyterian Hunger Program (PCUSA)
Rev. Dwain Lee
Springdale Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church(USA)
Rev. Cindy Geisen
Rev. Patricia Lloyd-Sidle
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Kathy Gapsis
First Unitarian Church
Ashia J. Stoess, M.Div.
Director of Youth Ministries
Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church
Kathy Wallace
Peace and Justice Formation Minister
St. William Community
Rev. Jane Larsen-Wigger
PC(USA)
The Buddhist Justice Collective
Mary Catherine Rabbitt SL
Sangeeta Ayithamattam, SCN
President
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
Luke Chase
Church of the Promise
Rus Ervin Funk
Coordinator
The Justice Center at All Peoples Congregation
Jack Steiner
Rev. Megan McCarty
Highland Presbyterian Church
Dr. Jim Luckett and Lois Luckett LCSW
Mary Swain, SL
Sisters of Loretto
Loretto Motherhouse
Connie Vice
David Horvath
Rev. Dr. John L. Odom
General Presbyter
Mid-Kentucky Presbytery
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. Karleen A. Jung
Third Lutheran Church
Lizbeth Susan Campbell
affiliated with Passionist Earth and Spirit Center
Reverend Anthony Everett MNN
Executive Director
Mission behind Bars Inc.
Rev. Katherine Kupar
Parish Associate
Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church
Sister Barbara Nicholas SL
President
Sisters of Loretto/Co-members of Loretto
Rev. Rebecca Barnes
Coordinator, Presbyterian Hunger Program
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Louisville, KY
Jud Hendrix
Executive Director
Interfaith Paths to Peace
Sr. Catherine Mahady, OP
Rev. Ryan M. Eller
Highland Baptist Church
President, Beloved Community Foundation
Lynne Anderson
Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
NAACP
Reverend Joel Weible
Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church
Pewee Valley (Oldham County), KY
Rev. Andrew Rutrough
Eva Stimson
Elder, Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church
Linette R. Lowe
Executive Director
Central Louisville Community Ministries
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Corrie Shull
Burnett Avenue Baptist Church
Risa Musto
member of Central Presbyterian Church and an alum of Louisville Seminary
Rev. Dean W. Bucalos
M.Div., J.D.
The Sowers of Justice Network
Thank you for reading. The Bail Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is only able to provide direct services and sustain systems change work through donations from people like you. If you found value in this article, please consider supporting our work today.
