Congressman Cohen Commends Haslam for Reform of State Law that Put Pre-trial Juveniles in Adult Prison

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today commended Governor Bill Haslam for signing a bill into law ending the practice of housing juvenile pretrial detainees in adult prison and called on Congress to pass the No Money Bail Act (H.R. 1437) to help stop the practice of conditioning pretrial release on a defendant's ability to pay. Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"Last week, we learned a Memphis 16-year-old had been held for 40 days in an adult prison 50 miles from her home and family because she couldn't make bail, and I said the barbaric practice needed to come to an end. Today, Governor Haslam has signed into law a first step in reforming the so-called ‘Safekeeping' program, which will now require Tennessee to house juveniles in juvenile facilities. The governor is to be commended for swift action in remedying this injustice. I hope Congress will now follow suit and pass the No Money Bail Act."