Member Article

$10k freeing homeless inmates

A former homeless woman has spent $1,641 on bailing two-dozen homeless people from jail, reports the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I did this because I spent time in jail and know what it’s like. It’s awful in there,” said 54-year-old Beverly Johnson, now a property developer. “The food is horrible. It’s baloney every day.“The people set free were homeless and unable to pay bonds of $25 to $100 on charges like trespassing, loitering or disorderly conduct. Those were the same type of charges for which Johnson was arrested some 20 times while homeless herself. Johnson has freed inmates on at least five previous occasions, spending “an easy 10 grand” in fees. She also lets homeless people stay in some of her properties. American jails spend an average $80 a day housing inmates.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .