Ideas worth spreading

How jails extort the poor

1,198,717 views | Salil Dudani • TEDxStanford

Why do we jail people for being poor? Today, half a million Americans are in jail only because they can't afford to post bail, and still more are locked up because they can't pay their debt to the court, sometimes for things as minor as unpaid parking tickets. Salil Dudani shares stories from individuals who have experienced debtors' prison in Ferguson, Missouri, challenging us to think differently about how we punish the poor and marginalized.

Why do we jail people for being poor? Today, half a million Americans are in jail only because they can't afford to post bail, and still more are locked up because they can't pay their debt to the court, sometimes for things as minor as unpaid parking tickets. Salil Dudani shares stories from individuals who have experienced debtors' prison in Ferguson, Missouri, challenging us to think differently about how we punish the poor and marginalized.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxStanford, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Donate to Civil Rights Corps, a non-profit organization dedicated to challenging systemic injustice in the American legal system.

Donate to ArchCity Defenders, a non-profit civil rights law firm challenging the systemic abuses of the legal system such as debtors' prisons and money bail.

About the speaker

Salil Dudani

See speaker profile

Salil Dudani has experienced the legal system from two vantage points: being detained by D.C. police on suspicion of "terrorist activity," and working as an investigator with civil rights lawyers challenging poverty-jailing.

About TEDx

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.

Find a TEDx event near you

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxStanford, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Donate to Civil Rights Corps, a non-profit organization dedicated to challenging systemic injustice in the American legal system.

Donate to ArchCity Defenders, a non-profit civil rights law firm challenging the systemic abuses of the legal system such as debtors' prisons and money bail.