I know there’s no sound in this video, and at first, I wasn’t going to post it. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the man pacing in the background. I’ve learned he’s being held on a $20,000 cash-only bond, which is illegal. This isn’t an isolated case-I’ve been told this is very common with Spanish-speaking individuals in Whatcom County. People who don’t speak or understand English are being held on illegal bonds, unable to defend themselves because translators are often unavailable, and written charges aren’t even provided in Spanish. The system here is broken and deeply corrupt. Pre-trial detention is supposed to ensure people return to court, but this jail isn’t about public safety-it’s about fleecing the most vulnerable people in our community, especially those who are indigent or people of color. Just two days ago, someone allegedly hung themselves in this jail. How many more people have to die here? How many have already died from suicide or drug overdoses? No one is asking these questions, and the stories of these tragedies rarely make it to the public. The despair in this jail is overwhelming, and it’s no wonder that people plead guilty just to get out-even when they’re innocent. I hope this video, and others we’ve shared, helps people start to investigate these issues more. We need accountability and reform in Whatcom County. Translators, alternatives to pre-trial detention, and following the Constitution shouldn’t be too much to ask. #WhatcomJail #PretrialReform #MiseryMachine #WhatcomCounty #JailCorruption #EndIllegalBonds
Knowing what I know about this man, I can only imagine he’s thinking about his family, his children, and the job he desperately wants to return to so he can support them like he’s always done. We’re hoping his public defender can coordinate with a translator to figure out a way to get him on ankle monitoring or another pre-trial release option so he can return to his family. It’s very hard to ignore this and not share it. Can you imagine being in his shoes? He’d rather be out there working and supporting his family, as he’s done before. He’s complied with pre-trial conditions in the past and has a strong support system waiting for him on the outside. These are real people with real lives, and the suffering isn’t just happening inside this jail-it’s happening to the families left unsupported on the outside. Meanwhile, taxpayers are unknowingly funding this misery machine. Why are we allowing this to happen?
Ab:: Great news! With a “jail house writ” forwarded to me from Adrian…then forwarded to this man’s public defender for review and submission = charges were dropped in court today! We asked if he wanted this removed and he said - keep it.
I know there’s no sound in this video, and at first, I wasn’t going to post it. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the man pacing in the background. I’ve learned he’s being held on a $20,000 cash-only bond, which is illegal. This isn’t an isolated case-I’ve been told this is very common with Spanish-speaking individuals in Whatcom County. People who don’t speak or understand English are being held on illegal bonds, unable to defend themselves because translators are often unavailable, and written charges aren’t even provided in Spanish.
The system here is broken and deeply corrupt. Pre-trial detention is supposed to ensure people return to court, but this jail isn’t about public safety-it’s about fleecing the most vulnerable people in our community, especially those who are indigent or people of color.
Just two days ago, someone allegedly hung themselves in this jail. How many more people have to die here? How many have already died from suicide or drug overdoses? No one is asking these questions, and the stories of these tragedies rarely make it to the public. The despair in this jail is overwhelming, and it’s no wonder that people plead guilty just to get out-even when they’re innocent.
I hope this video, and others we’ve shared, helps people start to investigate these issues more. We need accountability and reform in Whatcom County. Translators, alternatives to pre-trial detention, and following the Constitution shouldn’t be too much to ask.
#WhatcomJail #PretrialReform #MiseryMachine #WhatcomCounty #JailCorruption #EndIllegalBonds
Knowing what I know about this man, I can only imagine he’s thinking about his family, his children, and the job he desperately wants to return to so he can support them like he’s always done. We’re hoping his public defender can coordinate with a translator to figure out a way to get him on ankle monitoring or another pre-trial release option so he can return to his family.
It’s very hard to ignore this and not share it. Can you imagine being in his shoes? He’d rather be out there working and supporting his family, as he’s done before. He’s complied with pre-trial conditions in the past and has a strong support system waiting for him on the outside.
These are real people with real lives, and the suffering isn’t just happening inside this jail-it’s happening to the families left unsupported on the outside. Meanwhile, taxpayers are unknowingly funding this misery machine. Why are we allowing this to happen?
Ab:: Great news! With a “jail house writ” forwarded to me from Adrian…then forwarded to this man’s public defender for review and submission = charges were dropped in court today!
We asked if he wanted this removed and he said - keep it.