For want of $100, some stuck in city jail

[underpants]

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

About one of every 30 people waiting in Richmond's jail for a trial is behind bars because he or she can't afford a $100 bail bond.

Add in those who can't afford to pay $150 to $300 for a bond, and the total is one of every seven awaiting trial.

They'll stay in jail for weeks -- usually well over a month -- often for such misdemeanors as trespassing or disorderly conduct, a Richmond Times-Dispatch review of jail and court records found.

It costs taxpayers $374 a week to keep them in jail.

A Times-Dispatch review of nearly 1,500 inmate records from a single day in December found more than a dozen behind bars because they couldn't afford a $30, $50, $80 or $100 bail bond.

It discovered 50 more who couldn't afford $150 to $300 bonds.



Read more: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-02-29-0135.html

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See the rather delightful comments posted on this story. At least one of them made sense


Posted February 29, 2008 @ 02:41 AM by Larry Lanberg
Asking a small-timer to post bond is a ridiculous idea to begin with. It is believed that bond prevents people from leaving town & skipping their court date. But -- if a person cannot afford $100 bond then how could they possibly afford to skip town?!! Maybe Judge Cheek would be kind enough to explain this.

[panader0]

1. Here in Cochise County

if you go to jail, you must pay $75 a night. For a one inch mattress, gourmet meals and great ambiance.

[Champion Jack]

2. Do you get candles?

'Cause I would want candles with the meal....

[pattmarty]

3. Yeah, and I'll bet that the majority ain't white. Modern day .........

...... 20th century apartheid. What about "I" bonds or "recognizance" bonds to at least keep them out of jail for these bullshit "offenses".

[Roland99]

4. All the more reason to privatize jails, eh?

Surely they'll be more efficient and cost the taxpayer less in the long-term. Just like outsourcing non-critical (and even critical) military operations to private contractors has saved us gazillions.




:sarcasm:

[kirby]

5. Maybe some of the people...

have families and friends that do not want them out. Maybe families / friends think its worth letting them sit in jail detoxing/learning a lesson/staying out of trouble rather than being out on the street involved with drugs, prostitution, squatting, theft, homelessness, etc.

[underpants]

7. I think that it is also very likely that coming up with $100 is not so easy for them

including their families.

We are talking about very very poor people. Substance abuse often and the article mentions one guy getting treatment for mental issues. A horrible tri-fecta.

[EFerrari]

8. A lot of those families are waiting for a bad arrest to be booted

by the DA.

[liberalnurse]

6. Crazy I know....but what has happened

is that the high, unmanageable frequency of FTA, "Failure To Appear" in Court for these minor violations when they are left out of via , OR Release (Own Recognise)...Court Dockets became full and court rooms empty thus Warrants would be issues....see the trail which costs much more.

The Judges agreed to this action step to regain some sense of organization.

[sarcasmo]

9. 1 in 100 Americans in jail. The greatest country in the world, my A$$.