Dechert Assists in Obtaining Bail Funds Settlement Over Out-of-Cell Time for People Incarcerated in Philadelphia Jails

Attorneys from Dechert were part of a group of counsel including the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project and the ACLU-PA representing plaintiffs in obtaining an unprecedented settlement agreement with the City of Philadelphia (“City”) making a one-time payment of $125,000 to the Philadelphia Bail Fund and the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, to resolve violations of Court Orders requiring out-of-cell time for people incarcerated in Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities.

This settlement comes after a federal judge found that there were grounds to hold the City in contempt for failing to provide the Court-ordered minimum of three hours of daily out-of-cell time. Last month, the judge ordered Philly jails to prove that they are letting people out of their cells for at least three hours a day, or be forced to pay a fine to the bail funds.

To avoid a possible finding of contempt by the judge, the City of Philadelphia agreed to make a one-time payment of $125,000, in equal amounts of $62,500, to the Philadelphia Bail Fund and the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund.

The team from Dechert included Ben Barnett, Will Sachse, Mary Kim, Nicolas Novy, and Theeya Musitief.

Click here to read the press release.

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 24 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.