The Life of Patrick Edward Aftoora
Patrick Edward Aftoora was born on March 17, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio. A child of The Great Depression, Eddie witnessed a lot in his 86 years of life. As the year 2020 neared a close, I wanted to speak with someone who could look past the moment we were facing and contextualize our current reality.
As his grandson, and namesake, I wanted to learn about his upbringing, some of his fondest memories and his life's greatest lessons. I captured his voice because I knew I wouldn't have him here forever. It's a treasure.
$50,000 to Freedom:
Exploring Bail in West Virginia
In March 2020, the West Virginia state legislature passed a bill that encourages judges and magistrates to release people accused of certain, nonviolent offenses out of jail on personal recognizance bonds. The law went into effect in June of the same year. This four-part series explores the efficiency of the law, how it helps to reduce the overcrowded regional jails and examines the state's pretrial incarceration practices.
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Episode one: The Human Cost of Bail
Episode two: West Virginia's Bail Reform Bill: How it Works and Who it Serves
Episode three: A Family Business is Focused on Releasing People from Jail, Keeping the Community Safe
Episode four: A Tour of Bail: How Other States Have Reformed the Money Bail System