2.3 million people are confined in the United States. Over 1 in 5 of these people have yet to be convicted for the crime(s) for which they are being held. Instead, they are in local jails awaiting trial, often solely because they lack the resources needed to get bailed out.
Although interrelated, pretrial detention is distinct from prison incarceration following conviction. Conditions of confinement in jails are considered to be far worse, and the short- and long-term consequences are similarly devastating. Across the country, however, reforms are underway in many jurisdictions, offering promise for a more just future.
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