By Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
March 24 served as a night to get the “411” not discussed on college campuses when it comes to the American legal system. The civil rights and social justice organization, Equal Justice Now, in partnership with attorney Ben Crump, hosted a panel discussion at Bowie State University that took a deep dive into legal, social and civil rights issues.
Panelists included former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings, Maryland State Delegate and civil rights attorney Malcolm P. Ruff (D-MD-41), Dayvon Love, public policy director for the think tank, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, Bowie State faculty members and organizations representing southeast D.C.
Nothing was left unsaid in the quick flowing exchange between panelists, who shared knowledge not found in today’s textbooks about the bail system in Maryland, the limits of law enforcement’s capacity to deal with family mental health struggles and the legal system.
Bail reform
Ruff explained that the current bail system in Maryland suffers from a gap in the law allowing judges to make critical decisions about bail without written legal guidance.
“In Maryland, there is no standard of what it means to be a ‘present danger’ to the community in setting bail. It’s up to the judge. We have to get this corrected because the consequences are dire for our community,” he added.
“The impact cash bail has on our community is astonishing,” added Matasha Harris, associate dean of Bowie State University’s College of Professional Studies. According to the American Bar Association, nearly half a million Americans linger in jail until their trial dates, unable to pay bail.
Love added that while bail reform has had some positive impact in central Maryland, there’s still change that needs to be made
“The bad news is in the more remote regions, more people are being held,” he said, adding that individuals charged with crimes in the far Western and Eastern parts of the state still struggle.
Police responses to mental health
Crump came to the stage midway between panel sessions reflecting on themes from his new book, “Worse Than A Lie.”
“What’s worse than a lie?” Crump asked the audience.
“To tell the truth, and have nobody believe you,” he answered.
Crump highlighted the importance of reform when it comes to mental health and criminal justice reform.
“If you have a mental health crisis, the color of your skin should not equal a death sentence,” said Crump. He spoke on the case of Stephen Jones, the 55 year old man who was shot by police in Hartford, Conn. He died on March 3.
Jones’ family called on police to help after he began cutting himself with a knife.
The mood of the second half of the evening turned encouraging as Poolesville High School student, Emmanuel Chukwarah, had the courage to ask the panel what to do with his own bouts of discouragement.
“It’s ok not to feel ok, and it is always good to get help,” said Dionne Bussey-Reeder, CEO of the Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative. Reeder went on to add that while we are talking about mental health reform, we have to be talking about the economic conditions that disenfranchise our communities.
Bowie State University psychology Professor Ayanna Lynch added “We have to be supportive of people when they are not ‘ok.’ Sometimes insisting ‘I’m too blessed to be stressed’ is not the message people need.”
Crump gave a copy of his fiction novel, “Worse Than a Lie,” and personally signed them for every person who attended the panel discussion. Bowie State Senior, Keoni Montgomery, said the panel was life-changing.
“This really opened my eyes to so many issues I see happening around me every day,” he said. “It was also amazing to have Black men giving life lessons to me from the stage tonight.”