No Bail Required Now In CA: What Could Possibly Go Wrong

[Eric P]

Haven't read into this bill.

I do caution standing up for the status quo, or assuming that the existing system we has is anything but a massive fuck-up.

Has anyone here logically thought about all of the issues, benefits, detriments of bail, or do you just assume its good 'cause we have it, and 'merica?

People either shouldn't be released at all, or they should be released pending trial.

With a presumption of innocence, bail (if you're not aware) usually imposes a permanent cost upon the innocent. That doesn't seem to fit our presumption of "American Justice", which in reality, is anything but.

Agree completely. Why should 2 people arrested for the same minor crime be treated differently because one has money and the other doesnt?

[cstone]

But who is going to pay for all of the nifty SWAT equipment and massive pepper sprayers for all of the Bail Enforcement Agents roaming the country abducting people who missed a court appearance or haven’t paid the Bondsman what they charged so they didn’t have to sit in the county lock up while waiting for the courts to get around to hearing their case?

[Great-Kazoo]

Haven't read into this bill.

I do caution standing up for the status quo, or assuming that the existing system we has is anything but a massive fuck-up.

Has anyone here logically thought about all of the issues, benefits, detriments of bail, or do you just assume its good 'cause we have it, and 'merica?

People either shouldn't be released at all, or they should be released pending trial.

With a presumption of innocence, bail (if you're not aware) usually imposes a permanent cost upon the innocent. That doesn't seem to fit our presumption of "American Justice", which in reality, is anything but.

People should be released with a reasonable bail amount attached to their awaiting trial. There's untold numbers of arrest made where they post bail from $o - $500K and still don't show up. What makes you or anyone in the judicial system believe a no bail, cause everyone's equal, mentality will have offenders actually appear when their court date is due

[Gman]

Pick me up because I failed to appear, and you'll just have to let me out again.

Have fun with that!

[Aloha_Shooter]

The point of bail is to give the accused an incentive to return to court for his/her trial but still enable him/her to take care of things at home or work while awaiting trial. It's better than incarcerating people indefinitely simply because they are accused. Bail is supposed to be set based on risk of flight so someone who can afford more pays a higher bail or may not even get bail if the crime is serious enough. I don't have a problem with the design of the system and don't see either extreme of bailless incarceration or California's new policy as being better.

[Bailey Guns]

People aren't being treated differently based on economic status when they're required to post a bail. No more so than some people can afford a Mercedes while some can only afford a used...whatever. The reason for posting a money-based bail amount is to insure the defendant shows up in court (as has been pointed out already). There are ways of lessening the economic impact for those who make less money already. Not to mention the fact that maybe you shoulda thought of that before you did the crime. Will a very small percentage get charged without committing a crime? Maybe.

This is just another leftist scheme that's along the same lines as wealth redistribution. Leftists in this country go out of their way to coddle criminals...they always have...while rarely, if ever, mentioning the impact the various crimes these criminals commit have on their victims.

Not to mention that rich people who can afford to post high bail amounts are really not a big burden on the system. The burden comes from repeat offenders who often don't show up for court and who have very high recidivism rates and those who often commit more crimes while out on bail.

I'll concede that there may be a problem with the current bail system. I don't see this as a fix at all and my guess is that like so many leftist programs, when this fails miserably, the left will wonder what went wrong and bitch that someone needs to come along and fix it.

[waffles]

Haven't read into this bill.

I do caution standing up for the status quo, or assuming that the existing system we has is anything but a massive fuck-up.

Has anyone here logically thought about all of the issues, benefits, detriments of bail, or do you just assume its good 'cause we have it, and 'merica?

People either shouldn't be released at all, or they should be released pending trial.

With a presumption of innocence, bail (if you're not aware) usually imposes a permanent cost upon the innocent. That doesn't seem to fit our presumption of "American Justice", which in reality, is anything but.

Completely agree.

[Bailey Guns]

Much like a lottery, it taxes hardest on the poorest.

Seems to me it taxes those who commit crimes the hardest.

[Scanker19]

This catch and release bullshit is exactly what’s going on here in Albuquerque and it’s getting really old really fast. Unless you get a DWI then it’s like an instant 50k.

[Great-Kazoo]

Until/unless the justice system compensates people for bail when they are innocent/not convicted, it will be a travesty no matter how you slice it. And even then, it would have it's issues.

I have serious problems with your fate, freedom, and finances being completely owned by a single individual, who has incredibly high rates of personality disorders, narcissism, and is likely burnt out and full of various strong biases. That one single person gets to make an arbitrary call, without guidelines or realistic review, premised on nothing in particular, who decides if the innocent accused is released, or suffers a $25,000 permanent fine, a $50,000 permanent fine, or a $500 permanent fine. I have seen indescribably stupid shit from judges. Now, I've never been arrested mind you; I'm not "jaded" - but if you get accused of a bullshit accusation, you have a not-insignificant chance of standing before one of the worst pieces of shit the country has, who gets to power-trip on your fate. This isn't American, we were intended to have our fate controlled by a pool of our peers. That's not the American system.

I think people fail to realize bail isn't free, even if you show up and prevail. You still lose 5-10%, forever. Is that not a fine imposed by your government, without trial, appeal, or review; just an assumption of guilt considering the fact you will never recover it in any circumstance?

And you got it - criminals commit crimes. But so does 100% of the American population. Every. Single. Person. Every single fucking person has committed multiple felonies, whether or not they are aware of it. The difference between a few of those in prison and you, is simply that they pissed off someone who had enough power to bury them (the wrong person). Sure, most of the people in the justice system are shit holes and career criminals; not all of them. So is it okay to sweep problems under the rug because the innocent are a minority? Do you think it's more acceptable to presume guilt and strictly enforce punishments at the cost of 1/10 innocent thrown in to the fire, or is it better to presume innocent and release 1/10 innocents at the cost of 9/10 guilty potentially getting free? Legitimate question, what % of accused constituting innocent people do you consider acceptable for the American justice system to rape and throw into the fire.

My answer: 0%. That's what we were founded on.

I understand all the crap you dealt with when it involved questionable LE, the judicial system etc. Having been as a youth on the wrong side of the law, i know one is only as guilty or innocent as the lawyer you can afford. As well as get the right judge.

Sure the system is rigged, aren't they all.

That's been going on since the judicial system has been around. But to say No Bail and actually believe people will show up in court is a pipe dream.