►
Description
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) joined with Mayor Kenney and criminal justice stakeholders to highlight elimination of bail fees in the First Judicial District.
Councilman Johnson secured $1M in the FY2019 budget to offset lost revenue from the elimination of bail fees, but the initiative required an amendment to court rules. The First Judicial Court posted an order Wednesday, October 10th amending Philadelphia Criminal Rule *528.
In attendance:
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Mayor James Kenney
Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th District)
Councilman Curtis Jones (4th District)
Councilman Derek Green (At Large)
Keir Bradford-Grey, Chief Defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia
#No215Jail Coalition
A
A
B
Morning,
everyone
good
morning,
everyone
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
being
here
and
joining
me
before
this
council
session.
I
want
to
thank
my
colleague,
councilman
Curtis
Jones
on
the
fact
my
colleague,
councilman
Derrick
green,
but
also
I,
want
to
thank
the
mayor,
Jim
Kenney,
for
also
being
here
that
there
is
an
exciting
day.
B
Sir,
the
city
of
Ferguson,
where
our
criminal
justice
system
was
balancing
as
our
checkbooks
on
the
back
of
poor
people,
and
so
we
began
working
with
the
mayor's
office,
the
managing
directors
office,
but,
most
importantly,
the
criminal
justice
advisory
board
to
find
ways
to
eliminate
that
30%
on
bail
fee
I
want
to
take
a
moment
to
acknowledge
some
individuals
and
I'm
going
to
ask
them
individuals
to
come
up
and
speak.
But
really
this
was
the
effort
that
was
led
by
advocates
on
the
ground.
B
B
We
have
Han
assessment
from
the
no.21
five
jails
coalition,
give
her
a
round
of
applause.
Please
heee.
We
have
rubber
rubbin
Gregory
Holt
sting
from
power.
Definitely
novias
give
him
a
round
of
applause
and
he's
also
joined
by
Pastor.
Nick
O'rourke
give
him
a
round
of
applause,
young
lady
by
the
name
of
nyesha
who's.
A
part
of
the
ACLU
want
to
thank
for
our
advocacy
as
well
give
a
round
of
applause
and
Anna
managing
directors
office
on.
B
We
have
a
new
person
who's
steering
this
ship,
and
we
expect
great
things
tomorrow:
we're
going
to
be
partnering
with
five.
That's
miss,
but
Nesta
Garrett
Harley
confirm
on
to
the
floor,
and
we
want
to
give
credit
where
credit
is
due
under
the
leadership
of
council
president
Darrell
Clarke
and
the
mayor
and
Councilman
Curtis
Jones.
They
they
created
the
criminal
justice
advisory
board
and
there's
a
staff
member
who
my
office
work
closely
with
on
this
particular
issue.
I
miss
Julie
words,
Halloween
Julia,
Julia
viola
pastas
are
stepping
up.
B
We
know
some
people
have
on
the
ability
to
make
cash
bill
and
it's
how
many
fashion
that
some
people
don't,
but
we
want
to
use
more
progressive
ways
and
making
sure
people
come
to
court,
and
it
was
at
this
town
hall
hearing
that
I
chief
defender
MS
care,
Bradford
gray.
Could
we
give
her
a
round
of
applause?
This
young
lady
I
think
she
actually
was
the
one
who
sent
a
letter
to
the
court
some
time
ago
and
said
you
know
this
policy
is
totally
unfair
and
I.
B
B
B
Curtis
Jones
held
hearings
for
the
elimination
of
cash
bail
and
also
councilman
Derrick
green
stepped
up
to
the
plate.
He
also
had
a
hinge
regarding
reforming
the
bail
system
and
so
I
definitely
want
to
make
sure
their
pardons
process,
but
I'm
gonna
ask
for
Mayor
Jim
Kenney,
who
has
been
working
to
eliminate
prisons
here
in
the
city
of
foot
off
it.
Please
come
on
up.
C
Thank
You
councilman
Johnson
it's
and
to
all
the
friends
from
City
Council
are
here,
and
the
judge
Tucker
and
Kira
bradford
gray
and
along
with
representative,
the
first
judicial
district
and
other
criminal
justice
partners
and
community
members
who
are
here
today.
I'm
grateful
for
the
leadership
two
council
members,
johnson
jones
and
green
and
council
president
clark
have
shown
on
this
specific
matter
as
well
as
the
larger
issue
of
criminal
justice
reform.
C
For
the
past
several
months,
our
administration
and
all
the
members
of
the
cGAP
criminal
justice
advisory
board
had
positive
conversations
concerning
the
elimination
of
the
30
percent
bail
deposit
fee.
We
came
to
realize
that
cash
bail
itself
is
inherently
unfair
and
we're
working
together
to
eliminate
our
reliance
on
it,
but
with
hole.
30
percent
of
posted
bail,
even
when
folks
comply
with
all
court
requirements,
can
be
devastating
financially
to
Philadelphia's
families
who
are,
as
we
know,
living
in
poverty,
many
of
the
many
of
our
families
and
it
had
to
change.
C
So
we
appreciate
the
willingness
of
all
stakeholders,
and
particularly
the
courts,
and
have
shown
in
recent
to
consider
this
reform
and
we're
thankful
that
we've
been
able
to
achieve
this
positive
result.
I
am
certain
that
this
change
is
one
of
the
many
that
can
reduce
racial,
ethnic
and,
specifically
economic
base
disparities
in
the
criminal
justice
system,
and
it
is
in
line
with
our
joint
effort
to
safely
reduce
the
jail
population
by
50
percent
by
the
year.
2020
progress
is
often
evident
in
small
steps.
This
one
is
such
such
a
small
step.
C
C
This
30%
cash
bail,
went
to
the
city
general
fund.
We
did
not
budget
it
in
this
year's
budget
considerations.
We
have
always
thought
it
would
going
to
be
eliminated
and
we
think
we're
thankful
to
the
court
for
the
fjd
for
ruling
the
way
they
did
and
passing
the
rule
to
change
our
the
ability
to
hold
on
to
30%
of
that
of
those
proceeds.
People
are
living
in
poverty
in
the
city.
C
Some
of
those
folks
who
are
living
in
poverty
are
also
involved
in
the
criminal
justice
system
and
we're
going
to
make
sure
that
we
don't
hold
on
the
money
that
could
be
used
to
buy
food
and
pay
rent
pay
utility
bills
and
the
like
and
potentially
put
people
on
the
street.
So
we
want
to
thank
everybody
involved
and
I
want
to
thank
our
council
members
for
continuing
to
push
hard
on
this
and
I
want
to.
C
D
Good
morning,
I
want
to
thank
everyone
involved
in
this.
This
is
a
this
is
a
very
collective
and
collaborative
effort
to
advance
our
criminal
justice
reform
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
I.
Think
I
am
so
proud
to
be
here
in
this
moment,
because
we're
looking
at
issues
that
were
once
considered
taboo
criminal
justice
reform
was
not
on
the
menu.
D
It
was
not
something
that
our
our
public
officials
were
ruling
the
even
utter,
but
now
we
have
people
willing
to
understand
the
intricacies
and
how
the
criminal
justice
system
impacts
people's
lives
and
we're
doing
it,
not
just
with
our
elected
officials,
but
we're
engaging
community
in
meaningful
ways.
Community
that
are
here
today
and
I,
don't
want
to
name
names
but
I'm,
gonna,
say
a
few
and
I
may
miss
some,
but
I
don't
want
you
to
think
that
you're
not
important
in
its
effort.
D
No
two
and
five
jail
coalition
power
has
been
amazing
partners
in
this
effort
to
reform
our
city
and
reform
our
justice
system,
because
they
understand
the
impact
that
it
has
on
the
people
that
they
represent.
They
understand
the
impact
it
has
on
people
like
us
working
people
they,
those
are
the
people
that
are
trapped
in
our
justice
system
as
well.
So
I
applaud
people
for
being
brave
and
taking
on
these
issues
and
I
think
our
courts
for
being
progressive,
because
without
them
we
could
not.
D
We
would
not
be
here
so
Philadelphians
now
will
have
an
opportunity
to
get
back
their
full
cash
bail
deposits
at
the
completion
of
their
cases.
Changing
this
rule
is
long
overdue
and
comes
to
thanks
to
a
strong
partnership
between
community
members,
the
communities,
lawyers
at
the
defender,
Association
and
their
public
officials,
like
so
many
reforms
for
our
city
and
particularly
our
criminal
justice
system.
This
improvement
started
with
a
community
conversation
pitch
of
that
community.
D
Coming
up
with
the
solutions,
I
would
like
to
thank
councilman,
Kenyatta,
Johnson
and
state
representative
Johanna
McClinton
for
convening
the
Town
Hall
for
hearing
the
concerns
of
the
advocates
and
community
members
and
Vale
about
bail
fees
and
for
taking
action
on
this
issue.
Addressing
bail
fees
is
a
critical
step
on
a
path
towards
completion
of
elimination
of
cash
bail
in
Philadelphia.
D
Even
now
so
many
Philadelphians
are
sitting
in
jail
because
they
can't
afford
their
bail
working
together
can
create
change
in
power
communities
to
play
a
more
active
role
in
our
criminal
and
stop
routinely
incarcerating
people.
Pretrial
I
want
to
thank
councilman
president
councilman
Clark
and
Councilman
Jones
for
giving
me
the
opportunity
to
serve
on
the
criminal
justice
reform
committee.
Will
we
expose
and
bring
issues
to
light
that
used
to
be
non
transparent?
D
The
transparency
in
this
system
is
what
is
allowing
us
to
move
forward
and
advance
together,
and
that
takes
a
lot
of
effort,
and
that
takes
a
lot
of
bravery.
So
thank
you
and,
of
course,
special
thanks
to
our
Mayor
Jim
Kenny,
because
without
his
leadership
and
speaking
out
on
this
issues,
I
don't
think
these
are
also
be
possible.
Thank
you.
So
much.
E
E
I
want
to
thank
I
got
to
thank
my
two
colleagues,
three
colleagues,
but
two
in
particular
Councilman
Jones,
because
you
were
engaged
in
this
when
it
wasn't
wasn't
fashionable
way
way.
Back
then,
and
then
councilman
Johnson
came
along
is
the
young
turk
on
the
council
and
he
got
engaged,
bringing
his
knowledge
of
working
out
the
streets
as
young
people,
but
we
have
brought
all
kinds
of
aspects
in,
and
mayor
has
always
been
fighting
for
equity
as
elected
officials.
It's
our
responsibility
to
have
an
equitable
application
of
whatever
we
do
be.
E
So
I
want
to
thank
I'm
caring,
all
young
Your
Honor
I
just
want
to
thank
all
you
guys
so
much
for
your
work
power
all
the
advocates
who
have
been
working
out
there
diligently
in
the
vineyards
and
making
sure
that
we
apply
this
in
a
fair
and
equitable
way
and
to
make
sure
we
turn
this
whole
thing
around.
So
to
all
of
you.
Thank
you.
So
much
I
guess
is
my
job
as
the
budget
man
to
make
sure
that
we
did.
That
was
a
small
part
of
this.
E
B
So
he'll,
you
know
I
guess:
I'm
gonna
give
him
the
title,
probably
the
father
to
bail
reform
movement,
and
so
my
good
friend
of
my
colleague
I
just
want
to
give
him
a
special
invite
up
because
he
was
on
his
ground
as
council.
President
Harley
said
when
it
wasn't
the
fashionable
thing
to
do
so:
councilman
Curtiss
Jones
come
on
up
and
then
councilman
Derek
green.
F
So
there
there
are
two
type
of
people
in
government:
there
are
those
who
want
to
save
souls
and
they
want
to
put
their
arms
around
everybody
and
make
them
whole
along
with
society,
and
then
the
other
side
of
it
is
those
who
want
to
save
money
and
there
I
won't
describe
which
of
my
colleagues
are
which
but
I
will
only
say
that
in
this
case,
both
of
them
work
together.
We
are
saving
money
and
we
are
saving
souls.
This
young
man,
councilman
Johnson.
We
can
call
him
the
Young
Turk.
F
If
you
want
seized
on
a
a
difference
between
you
can
make
a
difference
by
passing
laws
or
you
can
just
simply
get
in
a
room,
negotiate
and
change
policies,
and
this
was
not
the
first
time
he
spearheaded
that
we
had
a
hearing
on.
It
was
former
Commissioner
Bethel
and
it
was
on
juvenile
fees
and
fines
and
former
Commissioner
went
off
for
about
I
think
a
tirade
of
15
minutes.
F
G
Good
morning,
it's
a
true
pleasure
to
be
here
this
morning
to
acknowledge
this
true
collaboration
between
all
branches
of
government
from
our
mayor
and
executive
branch
and
all
the
leadership
that
he's
done
in
references
issued
council
president,
as
well
as
all
the
advocates
who
have
been
mobilized
and
regarding
this
issue
as
well,
the
first
judicial
district
taken,
except
to
change
the
rules
to
make
this
change.
But
I
have
to
single
out
my
colleagues,
councilman
Kenyatta
Johnson
has
been
involved
in
criminal
justice
issues.
Long
before
you
even
been
elected
his
advocacy
for
his
organization.
G
He
created
peace,
not
guns
he's
been
really
in
the
vineyard
to
try
to
address
the
issue
of
crime
and
violence
in
our
city
for
a
long
time
and
then
my
other
colleague
councilor
rhys-jones,
as
we
stated
earlier
with
really
the
first
encounter
really
talk
about
this
bail
issue.
So
with
those
two
colleagues
as
well
that
council
president
really
taking
the
initiative
to
address
this
issue,
has
been
a
real
collaborative
effort
working
with
all
of
the
branches
of
government
as
well.
G
Resources
was
important
because
I
remember
my
time
as
an
assistant
district
attorney
in
Philadelphia
and
wondering
why
we
had
these
type
of
issues
like
this
30%
fee
and
how
that's
really
not
just
a
need
for
criminal
justice
reform,
but
also
an
economics,
justice
issue
and
I.
Remember
a
young
lady
who
came
testified
at
the
hearing
and
she
talked
about
and
she
was.
It
was
a
scuffle
on
her
Street
and
because
she
looked
young,
the
officers
thought
she
was
involved
in
this
Mele,
and
so
she
got
arrested.
G
And
if
it
was
not
for
the
bail
fund,
she
would
have
been
in
jail
for
probably
thirty
and
maybe
forty
five
days
and
would
have
lost
her
job
and
there's
number
of
people
that
have
been
that
same
situation.
Who,
who
are
in
this
situation
at
the
wrong
time,
may
get
arrested
and
eventually
get
released,
but
because
they
don't
have
the
resources
to
provide
bail,
they
may
end
up
losing
a
job
not
be
able
to
provide
for
the
families.
G
So
this
is
not
just
a
criminal
justice
reform
issue,
but
an
economic
justice
issue,
and
we
think
about
the
issues.
We
have
a
poverty
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
steps
like
today.
It's
a
really
a
way
that
we
can
address
these
issues
to
not
only
make
reform
in
our
city,
but
also
provide
economic
justice,
so
I
think
all
the
people
here
all
the
people
been
involved
in
this
process
for
your
leadership,
and
so
we
can
move
our
city
forward.
So
thank
you
so.
B
B
He
could
he
can
answer
those
specific
questions,
but
I
want
to
ask
for
Hannah
from
the
node
to15
jails
coalition
to
come
up
here.
Just
for
a
second
to
say
a
few
words:
where
are
you
Anna
I
know,
I
put
you
on
the
spot
because
listen,
weird
politicians
right
and
you
know
we
do
the
job
that
the
people
put
us
on
office
to
do
so.
H
Thanks
so
much
thank
you
so
much
councilman
Johnson
to
everyone
who
worked
on
this
issue
and
everyone
here
today.
The
story
that
the
councilman
just
told
was
of
Juwan
powell
was
a
manchu,
a
mother
of
ten
year
old,
worked
as
a
school
lunch
lady
and
then,
when
she
came
out
of
jail
after
the
support
of
the
community
bail
fund
brought
her
home.
She
really
started
to
focus
on
how
to
end
violence
and
build
community
in
her
streets
of
Mantua
and
I.
H
Just
want
to
note
that
both
who
the
community
bail
fund
through
the
advocacy
of
No
2
&
5
Jail
through
the
work
of
the
Philly
Coalition
for
justice,
we
see
the
thousands
of
people
who
are
up
on
state
road
when
they
come
home,
really
fighting
for
a
chance
to
transform
this
city,
which
I
know,
is
the
commitment
that
all
of
us
have.
So
we're
really
grateful
for
this
one
step.
This
one
really
important
step
in
returning
those
resources
home.
H
As
I
know,
our
city
is
making
to
send
far
far
far
more
people
home
where
they
can
give
to
their
communities,
get
the
resources
they
need
to
thrive
and
really
just
transform
criminal
justice.
I'm
really
excited
to
have
been
asked
to
speak.
That
was
a
surprise.
I
would
like
to
note.
We
definitely
have
questions
both
about.
I
I
910
basically
you're
talking
about
the
retainer
role,
yeah
yeah.
For
a
long
time,
the
partners
involved
in
the
criminal
justice
system
realized
and
appreciated
that
the
rule
wasn't
being
followed
followed
rather,
but
basically,
what
we
were
doing
was
to
accommodate
one
another:
the
defendants,
association,
private
counsel,
district
attorney's
office
and
the
courts.
So
I
guess
it
was
back
in
March
is
so
when
the
defenders
Association
and
the
courts
got
together
and
we're
still
meeting.
I
So
we
were
rescinded
it
and
we're
in
the
process
now
of
putting
together
another
role
that
would
take
its
place.
That
would
be
more
in
tune
with
what
we're
actually
doing
that
is
lodging
detainers
only
went
absolutely
necessary
right
now.
We
have
what
we
call
the
big
five,
the
rape,
the
murder
and
those
type
of
things
when
the
person
is
on
probation
or
parole
and
there's
a
new
arrest.
I
As
a
matter
of
fact,
for
the
safety
of
the
community
oftentimes,
a
judge
will
lodge
a
detainer
and
that
detainer
is
lodged
and
then
there's
several
hearings
of
gagging
on
one
hearing,
a
gag
in
the
to
hearing
to
determine
whether
or
not
the
detainer
should
be
lifted,
and
then
that's
the
way
it
goes
so
moving
forward.
That's
our
intention.
I
can't
go
into
too
much
more
detail
because
we're
still
in
the
process
of
meeting.
I
That's
for
understanding
as
well
and
while
I
do
not
agree
with
it.
It's
my
understanding
about
55%
of
the
people
that
are
incarcerated
in
our
county
prison
are
there
because
of
detainers,
and
some
of
those
attainments
candidly
have
been
there
for
a
long
time
and
we're
in
the
process
of
trying
to
resolve
them.
Usually
what
what
happens
is
a
person
is
arrested
as
on
and
convicted
and
on
probation
or
parole?
I
That
attainers
Lodge
now
mind
you.
There
is
approximately
40,000
people
in
Philadelphia
County
that
are
under
judicial
supervision.
Now
it's
a
different
story
and
a
different
conversation.
If
that's
right
or
wrong,
but
nonetheless
that's
the
fact
and
those
people
that
aren't
it
that
to
have
detainers
lives
against
them,
come
from
that
40,000
people
and
you
know,
I,
don't
have
that
to
tip
my
hand
right
now
how
many
people
are
on
detainers
right
now,
but
it's
somewhere
in
the
neighborhood
around
55%
of
the
individuals
that
who
are
in
judicial
custody.