Court Cases

Keyon Harrison, an African American 16-year-old, was walking home from school when he saw another youth with a model truck and paused to look at it. Grand Rapids police stopped Keyon, took his picture, and fingerprinted him even though Keyon did nothing more than admire a toy.

Although the court system is a public service, like schools, roads and libraries, the costs of the court system fall disproportionately on those least able to afford it: low-income criminal defendants.