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.
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
