Challenging Money Bail Practices in Calhoun
Walker v. City of Calhoun
In 2015, Civil Rights Corps and the Southern Center for Human Rights filed a crucial lawsuit that alleged that the money bail system in Calhoun, Georgia was unconstitutional. Per the complaint, our client, Maurice Walker, was jailed for six days solely because he could not pay less than $200 after he was arrested for being a pedestrian under the influence of alcohol.
In 2020, the case was settled. Under settlement agreement:
- The City of Calhoun, GA agreed to not return to bail policies or procedures that were in effect at time of filing
- The City of Calhoun Municipal Court provided copy of standing bail order to the sheriff’s office to ensure that no arrestee under jurisdiction of the municipal court will be held in jail pursuant to a secured monetary bond solely because the arrestee cannot afford to pay the bond amount for any amount of time over 48 hours
- The City of Calhoun incorporated into a resolution a provision requiring that the new bail order be followed as a policy of the municipal court.
Our lead plaintiff, Maurice Walker, also received a monetary payment to resolve his damages claim.
Media Coverage:
This Unfair Money-Bail Scheme Gets the Challenge It Deserves | Foundation for Economic Education | Nov 22, 2017
Cash Bail, a Centerpiece of the Justice System, Is Facing Its Undoing | NBC News | Oct 3, 2016
Bail schedules are unconstitutional and bad public policy, DOJ says | ABA Journal | Aug 22, 2016
Partners:
Filings:
Complaint (Sep 8, 2015)
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