One of the most bizarre ideas in the legal system is the belief that paying money makes someone less dangerous. In any other system such a concept would be seen, correctly, as unfairly favoring those with money, or with well do do families, and punishing those who do not have access to large amounts of cash. In the legal system, it is called cash bail, and is used every day in courthouses across the state, and country. How it works, when someone is charged with a crime, before they are convicted, they may be required to put up cash, or a bond to get out of jail. Cash bail is more likely to be required in cases where the crime charged is serious, public safety is usually cited as a reason for requiring cash bail to get out of jail. Why on earth would being able to put up cash make someone less dangerous, less likely to cause harm while they are waiting for trial on their case. If someone is truly dangerous, they can be required to wear a GPS monitor, or, kept in jail pending trial. Cash bail serves no purpose other than to pack jails with poor people, often people of color, causing them to lose their jobs, and costing the taxpayers thousands in jail costs. Getting rid of cash bail will end a grossly unfair system, and save taxpayers in this state alone millions of dollars per year.
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