Former public defender Emily Galvin-Almanza, a co-founder of Partners for Justice (PFJ), stated that through a partnership with Uber, her organization is able to connect individuals who have been arrested with free rides to court dates and other required appointments. Galvin-Almanza said in a May 26 opinion piece that if California’s Proposition 22 is struck down, the reclassification of rideshare drivers as employees could negatively impact the program.
"These free rides can be life-changing: in just a matter of months, we had several clients able to make it to court on time and avoid getting arrested for their absences, keeping families together and sparing people jail time," said Galvin-Almanza. "We've had sick clients use these rides to get to medical care, and disabled clients use these rides to make it to appointments they couldn't reach on their own. In the brouhaha over what will happen in the pending Proposition 22 litigation, which may result in the reclassification of Uber drivers as employees rather than contractors, it is tempting to worry about what happens next. After all, these free rides to court and vital appointments have, at times, quite literally saved people's lives, and protected families from the separation of having their loved one jailed."
According to a report from the Prison Policy Initiative, many individuals who fail to appear in court are among "the poorest and most marginalized people in the system." Individuals who fail to appear, the majority of whom are nonviolent offenders, can face consequences such as arrest warrants, fines, and additional criminal charges.
Galvin-Almanza said many people who are arrested for misdemeanors fall into the low-income category and either don't have cars or cannot afford gas for public transportation. In some cases, public defenders' clients trying to make it to a court date are arrested on public transit because they couldn’t afford to pay the fare. "Having companies like Uber step up has been a game-changer and a path we wish more major companies would follow," she said.
Most people in the court system have eight to ten required court appearances within six months, even if their case does not go to trial, according to a post on PFJ’s website. Uber and PFJ launched a pilot program in Los Angeles in 2022 which has now expanded across the state, as well as to Texas and Louisiana. Through the program, hundreds of clients have gained access to free transportation to court dates. One client named Jasmin had serious medical needs and was living in her broken-down car in Los Angeles. Through PFJ, Jasmin found a treatment program, and Uber brought her to the program. "That ride saved my life," Jasmin said.
Partners for Justice trains advocates to serve in Public Defenders’ offices to support clients and community members. The organization aims to disrupt the poverty and incarceration cycle by connecting clients with resources and local services.
Galvin-Almanza worked with the Los Angeles and Santa Clara County Public Defenders’ Offices prior to co-founding Partners for Justice.