Recently, there have been reports about severely overcrowded conditions in the prisons and jails across the country. The issue became even more apparent in October 2011 when the State of California passed the new Realignment plan into action.

The concerns about growing jail populations has led many to argue over why it is happening and what should be done to alleviate the situation in detention facilities across the country.

One organization, the Pretrial Justice Institute, has been quick to place the blame on the commercial bail bond system as well as other means of release that are dependent on money. The organization has reported that (according to their unreleased findings) up to 80% of inmates inside of the jails are only there because they cannot afford to pay for bail or a bail bond.

While the PJI has been using those numbers to build up funding for its cause, there have been no established reports or evidence that gives any proof to those numbers. It is more likely that the numbers are fabricated in order to make the current bail bond system appear faulty and promote the implementation of the organization’s free criminal welfare programs.

In actuality, the majority of the jail population is comprised of inmates who do not qualify for bail. This includes those who are:

• Illegal immigrants being detained for deportation
• Inmates waiting transfer to a state prison
• Inmates waiting transfer to a different jail in another county or state (if there is an outstanding warrant)
• Inmates being held for violations of probation
• Inmates serving out their sentences
• Inmates considered a flight risk or danger to the community

In addition to those inmates who do not qualify for a bail, there are those who have had their bail amounts set at an inordinately high amount, possibly $1 million, which are not intended to be released.

The people who are being held on bail may either be refusing to pay the bail amount or the cost of a bail bond, or they may be ignorant of how the bail bond process works. Many people who are arrested do not know what the cost of a bail bond would be for them.

For these people, it is important for them to know all of the facts about the bail and bail bond process. If they were aware of the many financing options available, it is likely that more inmates who are eligible to post a bond will take advantage of the first opportunity to be released.

It is clear that many jails across the country are dealing with overcrowding issues. However, to place the blame on the high price of bail and the cost of securing a bail bond with a licensed bail agent is misguided. For the most part, the inmate population is comprised of people who are not eligible for bail.

People who have been given a bail amount have many options with getting a bail bond and there are always those agents who are willing to work out an affordable payment program to help get them released from jail quickly.

Source: Pretrial Services Fail Again

Published: 08/27/2012