In Oklahoma and across the country, people are jailed not because they are dangerous, but because they are poor.
This isn’t justice. It’s a penalty for poverty.
Three out of four people in Oklahoma’s jails are not serving a sentence – they simply can’t afford their freedom. Many people being held before trial are not considered dangerous, nor a flight risk – they just don’t have the cash needed to get out of jail. This practice disproportionately impacts low-income individuals and communities of color, reinforcing cycles of poverty and instability.
That’s why The Bail Project exists and has been working in Oklahoma since 2018. In that time, The Bail Project has helped more than 3,500 people in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Many of these people were in danger of losing their jobs, their homes, even the custody of their children as they sat in jail awaiting trial.
“I have been able to post the bonds for hundreds of individuals – many of them days away from losing everything they have worked for,” said Sydney Waters, a bail disruptor in Tulsa. “With our assistance, our clients were able to keep their housing, their jobs, and even their children.”
Even if the client is ultimately convicted, being released while awaiting trial is an important part of being “innocent until proven guilty.” During that time, people can more easily work with their attorney, maintain their jobs, and care for their children.
“The most meaningful part of my work here is connecting with people and their circumstances. We meet people in their most vulnerable moments and look for small pieces of connection, which we use to foster hope and provide security during someone’s darkest moments,” said Mercy Johnson, operations manager for The Bail Project in Tulsa.
Johnson often thinks of an 82-year-old client named Lois, who had dementia. She had been arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail because of public episodes of confusion and disorientation. She had no local family who could help her – but The Bail Project paid her bail and found her the local support she needed. Her charges were ultimately dismissed and expunged. If not for The Bail Project, she would have spent a longer time in jail becoming more confused – all for charges that were dismissed.
Oklahoma has been at the forefront of both racial injustice and the fight for civil rights. In 1921, Tulsa was the scene of the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history that left 39 people dead, hundreds injured, and thousands homeless. In 1958, Oklahoma City was the site of the nation’s first nonviolent diner “sit-in,” in which Black diners sat at a “whites-only” counter and refused to leave unless served. Today, the cash bail system continues to disproportionately harm Black communities, reinforcing cycles of poverty and incarceration.
Johnson said she came to The Bail Project as a natural outgrowth of her long-term interest in breaking generational cycles of poverty, substance abuse, and untreated mental illness. “I find purpose here in serving but also because of The Bail Project’s mission and desire to eliminate inequitable practices such as cash bail,” which she described as an “outdated practice” that highlights the shortcomings of the criminal justice system.
In both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, The Bail Project’s clients make about 90% of their court appearances, proving that most people do not need a cash incentive to show up for court. By connecting clients with the services they need and helping them navigate the court process, the overwhelming majority of clients appear as required.
Karen Valencia, The Bail Project’s client support specialist in Tulsa, has seen firsthand what a difference these services make. One of her most memorable cases was a woman named Shelly, who was homeless and hungry when she was arrested for stealing food. Though charged with a misdemeanor, Shelly was facing indefinite incarceration because she couldn’t afford the $800 bail. In addition to paying the bail, The Bail Project helped Shelly get her life back on track.
“I was able to assist her in getting connected with the local food pantry and housing,” Valencia said. “She’s doing amazing and I feel at peace knowing that The Bail Project has a drastic impact on people’s lives.”
That experience of seeing lives change is common among The Bail Project staff in Oklahoma.
Tulsa bail disruptor Tanner DeLapp often thinks of his first client, Stanley.
“After his first court date, which I went to with him, we walked over to a nearby Arby’s and got lunch,” DeLapp said. “We sat down and after a few moments, he started to explain his entire life story and struggles to me. He explained how much The Bail Project, and specifically how much my work, had meant to him and how he believes it saved his life.”
The Bail Project’s work in Tulsa and Oklahoma City is proof that a better system is possible. But to end the injustice of cash bail, systemic change is needed – so that freedom is not just for those who can afford it.
Thank you for your valuable attention. The urgency and complication of the cash bail crisis requires meaningful participation to create real change – change that is only achieved through the support of readers like you. Please consider sharing this piece with your networks and donating what you can today to sustain our vital work.
