Grantee investigates San Francisco case that illustrates larger pattern of people being held in jail for years awaiting trial

Kishawn, left, and Kenyon, right. They were arrested less than a year later (photo courtesy of Kywanna Reed)

With support from the Fund, Amy Martyn dug into a murder case in San Francisco that’s part of a pattern of more than 100 cases in the city where people spend years in jail awaiting trial on serious charges. Brothers Kenyon and Kishawn Norbert spent more than seven years in jail awaiting trial. Martyn reported that officials did not gather more evidence against them during those years, and the case was shaky. With few options, the brothers ultimately took plea deals but have always maintained their innocence and are appealing their sentences.