Tarari enters a diversion program, which saves him from jail but puts his life-and the lives of other defendants like him-on a knife’s edge. They discuss how plea bargaining works, the culture of prosecutors versus public defenders, and what he’s trying to teach young prosecutors now. Bazelon talks plea bargaining with Adam Foss, founder and president of Prosecutor Impact. An episode from Eric Gonzalez’s past comes back to haunt him as he campaigns for district attorney and thinks through the consequences of extending mercy to people like Tarari. Tarari faces a very long prison sentence before he’s offered the chance at mercy-with many strings attached. They discuss the history of bail in the United States, how bail bond companies work, and the current movements to end cash bail in several states. Bazelon goes deeper into the issues of bail with Insha Rahman of the Vera Institute. Eric runs for his own term as district attorney just as the demands to close Rikers heat up. As his family and friends hustle to come up with his bail money, Tarari’s journey into the criminal justice system takes him to one of the most infamous jails in the country: Rikers Island. They discuss what it’s like being producers of color and the racial nuances of making a podcast about crime and punishment in New York. Host Emily Bazelon talks to producers Veralyn Williams and Alvin Melathe.
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