What are the consequences as the federal government dismantles inequity and more?

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 That’s the question we’ve been talking about for a while now. 

• Jail vs. Prison: On any given day, over two-thirds of people in jail (more than 400,000 individuals) are awaiting trial and are incarcerated simply because they cannot afford bail. Even two days in jail can significantly increase the likelihood of losing a job, housing, or child custody.

• In 2021, Black children were arrested at a rate of 1 in 3 child arrests, despite making up only 15% of the nation's youth population. Black youth are more likely to be in custody than white youth in every state except Hawaii, with a national placement rate of 315 per 100,000 for Black youth compared to 72 per 100,000 for white youth.

• Transfer to Adult Court: Black youth are significantly more likely to be transferred to adult court compared to white children for the same or lesser offenses. In 2016, Black youth made up 67.7% of mandatory and discretionary direct file transfers to adult court in Florida, despite being only 21% of the youth population.

These statistics highlight the significant and persistent racial disparities present at every stage of the U.S. criminal justice system. Read more.

Silence in the Airwaves: The Growing Threat to Public Broadcasting

Many communities, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, rely on public media as their primary or sole source of local news and information. Funding cuts would accelerate the closure of these outlets, leaving residents without access to critical local journalism and civic engagement opportunities. Read more here.

In essence, the threat to public media is not just about budget cuts; it's about diminishing a vital public good that provides accessible, reliable information, strengthens community ties, and fosters an informed citizenry.