“The poor are far more likely to get stuck in jail, which makes them far more likely to get fired from jobs, lose custody of children, plead guilty to something they didn’t do, serve time in prison and suffer the lifelong consequences of a criminal conviction.” What’s the key element that drives these factors? Money. The bail system provides significant advantages to those who can afford bail. “America’s justice system runs on the exchange of money for freedom.” Now, in New Jersey, lawmakers are testing a new system that replaces bail with an algorithm. Can it work? A special report from NBC News: Post Bail.