‘If I could buy freedom, I would’: LA residents who can’t afford bail sue to change system

Complaint on behalf of six detained people who have not yet seen a judge targets largest jail system in US

Los Angeles residents jailed because they can’t afford to pay bail have filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the system that often keeps low-income people behind bars before they’ve been charged.

The complaint was filed on Monday on behalf of six people in LA jails who were recently arrested but have not yet seen a judge, been arraigned or assigned a public defender.