Yeah, I know that sounds like a strong statement when it isn’t related to medicine. But there are some pretty great things happening right now in tech within the legal industry. We love being part of this community. And, we are always there to help our attorney and client users. While we are fans of our product, and our competitors, this new offering is really far more powerful. This new capability actual alters the course of someones future. We are talking about bail reform.
This week, the announcement was made that Jay-Z, yes, Beyonce’s sometimes dodgy husband, invested in some legal tech. It’s all about bail reform. The product, Promise, is an alternative for those who cannot afford bail. From a survey completed by Vera Institute of Justice, some 62% of inmates across the country are jailed because they cannot afford bail. These offenders are ‘largely’ non-violent offenders, some at the misdemeanor level or lower. However, because they lack access to funds, they cannot pay the bail and end up in jail. The cost of these unnecessary detentions? About $38Million. Per day.
As if the injustice of jailing someone for a low-level crime isn’t enough, add to it the cost to the system. Now, we may disagree on where to put those $38Million dollars. But, there is no doubt those funds can be better spent. Hopefully, they can be used to help the offenders. Rather than detain them, why don’t we give them a hand? That’s the promise of, well, Promise.
From creating the right care plan for each participant, to monitoring their progress, Promise adds the technology piece to the human effort. So, Promise users, both from the government and the participant, can see care plans, progression against those plans, and even monitor their location. Not only is the cost far less than the estimated $190 per inmate per day for incarceration, it decreases the likelihood of repeat offense. Not to mention keep these low-level offenders out of jail. And back at work or home. And even better, maybe getting some help to keep from reoffending.
Bail reform remains a hot topic, from California to New York. Technology does deliver on the promise of transformation in many industries. But it is truly a rare event that technology transforms individual lives.