PLAN lands grant for bail reform work

The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada is one of eight organizations around the country to be awarded a $1,745,000 grant to fight to end cash bail.

Borealis Philanthropy on Wednesday announced the launch of the Spark Justice Fund, which will make the grants to groups working “to end money bail, advance pretrial justice reform, and build power in communities most impacted by incarceration.”

The grants are awarded to organizations in states “where there is a growing movement for pretrial justice reform,” the Borealis launch statement said.

Organizations in Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas and also were awarded the grants.

“Crime and punishment has been a revenue stream for our low tax “business friendly” state,” said PLAN Executive Director Laura Martin, “but community leaders do not accept that municipal governments pay their bills off the backs of Nevadans with endless fines and fees. This past legislative session we got closer than ever to end cash bail, and decriminalizing traffic tickets — two main arteries of mass incarceration. This progress is thanks in no small part to leaders directly impacted by the system like PLAN organizer Leslie Turner who leads the mass liberation organizing in Nevada.”

“We are excited to double down on these organizing and advocacy efforts with the support of the Borealis Fund,” Martin said.

PLAN counts more than 30 organizations in its alliance. The group is marking it’s 25th anniversary this year.