Louis Schweitzer and Herb Stutz launched the Vera Foundation in 1961 to address economic disparity in New York City's criminal court system. The two crusaders felt the court system's practice of granting bail allowed only accused criminals with financial means pre-trial freedom. They worked with the city's criminal justice leaders to create an alternative approach, allowing defendants with limited financial means to be released pending trial if they could demonstrate strong community ties. Their idea proved effective, and has influenced the way arraignments......

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