If the City of Jennings threw you in jail between February 8, 2010 and September 16, 2015 because you could not afford to pay a fine or court costs, then you may have some money coming to you.
In September 2015, the City of Jennings entered into a proposed settlement agreement with ArchCity Defenders, Equal Justice Under Law and Saint Louis University School of Law Legal Clinics, who had sued the city over unconstitutional practices in its municipal court.
As part of the agreement, the City of Jennings agreed to pay $4.7 million to compensate an estimated 2,000 people who are eligible to receive money from the settlement. But there is a deadline. If you believe you are eligible you have until November 24 to complete the Jenkins v. City of Jennings Settlement claim form by mail or email in order to receive compensation from the landmark settlement. Access the form at goo.gl/7Roupk.
Of the $4.7 million, according to Thomas Harvey, executive director of ArchCity Defenders, a few hundred thousand is going to the homeless shelter that former Superintendent Tiffany Anderson created, and 25 percent will go to attorney fees, split up between the three law firms who represented the plaintiffs “so we can file other suits here and across the country.” The remaining $3.5 million will be split among the eligible people who complete a settlement form in time. The total amount paid is based on how many days spent in jail.
“No amount of money could ever compensate or absolve the systemic abuses that people have been subjected to,” Harvey said, “though we believe this settlement has the potential to set legal precedent on debtors’ prison cases across the country.”
The proposed agreement, which would be enforceable in federal court, also includes the following reforms: elimination of cash bail, immediate release on signature or unsecured bond on a first arrest, establishment of a meaningful inquiry into a person’s ability to pay, elimination of the payment docket, conversion of unpaid fines and fees to civil judgment, elimination of warrants or jailing for the failure to pay, and dismissal and forgiveness of all fines and fees on cases dating prior to March 12, 2011.
In the past year, various municipalities have announced periods of warrant forgiveness and other reforms to their municipal courts and many of these municipalities have advertised a program charging $100 to recall warrants.
“Temporary, voluntary and unmonitored internal policies in 81 separate part-time courts with part-time judges and prosecutors will not solve the problems that plague our region,” Harvey said. “Under the current piecemeal approach to reform, there is nothing to stop these municipalities from going back to old policies in the near future.”
Harvey said the only sustainable solution to unconstitutional municipal court practice would include consolidation of the currently existing municipal court system; creation of a regional court system, open full time, with professional staff; and the implementation of the procedural protections proposed in the settlement with the City of Jennings (Jenkins v. Jennings 4:15-cv-00252-CEJ) and ArchCity’s previous proposed settlement with the City of Velda City (Pierce v. Velda City 4:15-cv-00570-HEA).
To complete the City of Jennings Settlement Form, visit goo.gl/7Roupk or go to ArchCity Defender’s office in the second floor of Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust St. in downtown St. Louis. For more information, call 1-866-236-6721. The deadline is November 24.
