By Dr. Kevin L. Booker, Jr. Northend Agent’s
Envision yourself being evicted from your apartment, through no fault of your own, and not receiving any mail or notification about a critical court order because your address changed or your access to reliable communication was disrupted. You didn’t get the letter, the email, or the voicemail. Your phone is broken or disconnected, and you simply can’t afford a replacement.
Now, imagine needing to get to work to keep your job, but you can’t register your recently purchased car or obtain the legally required insurance because you don’t have enough money. You’re stuck—unable to drive and unable to work—because of financial hardship.
Picture being arrested, with your fate resting in a courtroom. But instead of having an experienced attorney advocating for you, you’re appointed a public defender. Though well-intentioned, these defenders are often overwhelmed with large caseloads. You’re left with little faith in the justice system or the outcome of your case.
These scenarios are not abstract or uncommon—they are daily realities for many low-income individuals across the United States. Poverty creates a ripple effect that touches nearly every part of a person’s life, particularly within the criminal justice system. Imagine facing these barriers yourself. What would your life look like? How would you navigate these obstacles without the financial resources or social capital to cushion the impact?
According to 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 36.8 million people in the United States live in poverty. That’s nearly 11% of the population struggling to afford basic necessities such as housing, transportation, healthcare, and legal support (https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/income-considered-poverty-level-2025#:~:text=$26%2C650:%203%2Dperson%20household).
Real Stories, Real Barriers
Suzanne Pinkes, a community member and former attorney, shared a story that underscores how poverty intersects with the criminal justice system. She recounted her experience supporting a federal program to count the homeless in Hartford County. One man she met had just been released from prison and was given only enough money for bus fare to the nearest city. Desperate to survive, he reverted to selling drugs—a tragic but familiar cycle for many. Upon release, people often face society with no resources, no shelter, no income, and no plan for reintegration.
Keith Davis, a local activist and community leader who has firsthand experience with the justice system, spoke about the enormous challenges faced by low-income individuals when they are arrested. Many cannot afford bail and remain incarcerated until their court date—sometimes for months. Without enough money to hire a lawyer, they are appointed public defenders who may lack the time or resources to give the case the attention it deserves. The result? People, even those who may be innocent, often accept plea deals just to escape jail, believing they stand no chance at trial.
As Davis highlighted, wealth inequities create an unequal justice system. Those with money can post bail and hire experienced private lawyers. Those without, remain behind bars, often coerced into accepting poor plea deals. According to the Bail Project, 60% of people in jail are there simply because they cannot afford bail (https://www.bailproject.org/beyond-bail). These individuals are removed from their families, lose their jobs, and are further pushed into poverty.
Justice by Appearance
Ken Simon, a former public defender with over 35 years of experience, shared how even courtroom attire can reflect one’s socioeconomic status. Simons shared that wealthy individuals who are out on bond can dress in suits and ties, projecting dignity and respectability. But incarcerated individuals appear in court in prison-issued uniforms unless they’re on trial, often influencing a judge or jury’s perception of them.
Simon’s office tried to keep a small closet of professional clothing for clients going to trial, but sizes rarely matched, and the clothing was often outdated or mismatched. Meanwhile, Davis mentioned that some people are released still wearing their “browns,” or prison uniforms, which marks them to society as criminals, not free individuals. It’s dehumanizing and dangerous.
Simon shared that transportation is another overlooked barrier. Many people can’t afford bus fare, don’t own a car, or live in areas with no reliable public transportation. If they miss court because of these issues, some judges offer plea deals in exchange for dropping the failure to appear charge. People accept these deals just to move on—without realizing that accepting a guilty plea now could mark them as a “flight risk” later, making it harder to be released pretrial in the future.
Continued Mistreatment
As the judicial system within the United States continues to prove to be unjust and unfair toward U.S. citizens, another layer of injustice is emerging with the mistreatment of people who have illegally and legally immigrated to the U.S.
Recently we have seen an increase in detention centers being used throughout our nation as a result of the enforcement of immigration policies by the current administration. Many of these centers have been criticized for inhumane conditions. The newest, Alligator Alcatraz, opened July 3, 2025, in the remote Florida Everglades. Modeled after the infamous Alcatraz prison, it’s designed to intimidate, with a target of 5,000 detainees. (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/first-immigration-detainees-arrive-at-alligator-alcatraz-in-florida-everglades#:~:text=According%20to%20images%20shared%20with,emblazoned%20with%20the%20facility’s%20name.
By July 12, about 900 men were held in tents and chain-link pens with poor sanitation, insufficient food, and no reliable access to legal support or outside contact. Because it’s state-run, detainees are excluded from the ICE database, making it nearly impossible for families or lawyers to locate them (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article310785240.html). These practices highlight the ongoing mistreatment of marginalized populations in the U.S. under evolving immigration policy.
The Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal… endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript). Yet historically marginalized groups—including the poor, people of color, and immigrants—are still denied these rights in our justice system and immigration policies.
When will these promises truly apply to everyone?
The Path Forward: Systemic Change
There are solutions. Davis shared that the solutions to the systemic barriers can lie within the individuals who have experienced the inequitable system themselves. He has devoted his life to empowering youth, men, and women by sharing his experience with the criminal justice system and fighting for them to establish who they are in the world.
He believes that probation officers should be required to help clients reintegrate—assisting with housing, employment, and healthcare—not just monitoring them for compliance. Most people leaving prison are given little more than bus fare. We must provide more.
Programs like the Bail Project aim to prevent unjust pretrial detention by helping people pay bail and return to their communities. Partners for Justice places advocates within public defender offices to help clients with housing, healthcare, and job searches. In Hartford, Connecticut, the Second Chance Reentry Initiative Program (SCRIP) supports formerly incarcerated individuals through trauma-informed counseling and workforce development. Their success is clear: 86% of participants have stayed home after release, and 64% remain employed (https://www.scripconnect.org/).
Justice Must Be for All
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote from his jail cell in Birmingham in 1963, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere… Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
That message is as relevant today as ever. Our justice system should be just that—just. But for too many, it is a system of compounding punishment for being poor. When will all people be treated fairly in our country, regardless if they are poor or an immigrant seeking citizenship?
If we want to build safer, healthier, and more equitable communities, we must eliminate the systemic barriers that deny people a fair chance. We must ensure that our government and society protect the unalienable rights of all people to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.
Let’s live with intentional compassion and advocate for policies that dismantle inequity.
Let’s give every individual—regardless of income, citizenship, race, and ability—a real chance to thrive.
Photo by MART PRODUCTION: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-green-jacket-lying-on-floor-8078366/
