Birmingham Group Aims to Reunite Families for Mother’s Day by Freeing Women From Jail

Birmingham – As a part of their continuing effort to address the city’s rising homicide rate, a local nonprofit, Faith and Works, is working tirelessly to bail out incarcerated Black mothers just in time for Mother’s Day.

Many parents charged with crimes end up sitting behind bars for months, even years, without having been convicted of a crime. This happens simply because they cannot afford bail while awaiting trial in jail. Faith and Works aim to change this, especially for Black women who are disproportionately affected by the cash bail system.

The Cash Bail System in the United States

About two-thirds of people jailed in the United States remain incarcerated simply because they can’t afford bail or a bond, representing an estimated 500,000 individuals. The median bail amount for felonies stands at about $10,000, and this financial burden significantly contributes to the extended detentions.

According to a 2024 report by the Prison Policy Initiative, of the 190,600 women incarcerated in the United States, 80 percent are mothers. Most are the primary caretakers of their children, making their absence even more significant.

Faith and Works’ Efforts to Free Mothers

To bring awareness to the harms of cash bail and pretrial detention, Faith and Works initiated its first round of bailouts in 2017. The organization has raised over $1 million for community bail funds over its first two years of existence.

Among the women identified for bail out this year, the nonprofit provided a much-needed lifeline. It goes beyond just securing their release; the group also provides resources and support services such as money for groceries, bills, rent, and transportation.

The founders believe that freedom shouldn’t be determined by financial capabilities. They aim to level the playing field by helping poor individuals, who are often harshly treated by the justice system.

Change In Lives of The Mothers

Like many mothers, Yolanda spent six months in jail before being bailed out by Faith and Works, only to be found not guilty of her charges.

In another instance, JaCari Letchaw, a single mother of five children, was arrested for a nonviolent offense. Her bail was set at $60,000, a sum she couldn’t afford. Thanks to Faith and Works, she was bailed out, preventing her home’s eviction notice from being executed while she was behind bars.

In 2023, the charity bailed out a mother of five children during Thanksgiving. Her oldest daughter in high school had to quit her job to take care of her siblings. Faith and Works also provided her grandmother with $1,000 in cash for groceries and bills.

Drawing Attention to Pretrial Detention Harm

With their work, Faith and Works hope to bring awareness to the adverse effects of cash bail and pretrial detention. They believe that the penal system needs to be changed to stop people from losing everything while simply awaiting trial from jail. This year, for Mother’s Day, they hope to reunite more families by freeing as many mothers as they can and helping them regain their lives outside the prison walls.