Trump has never paid bail for his three indictments, so I hope articles and statements will stop referring to him as being “out on bail.”
All the while the "law and order" contingent among us have been led to believe the low level criminals they fear are "getting out on technicalities" at a rampant pace.
The "technicalities" largely exist so that those who can afford expensive lawyers can exploit them.
@ReneeVoiceBrand @johnldeboer
Meanwhile, those who are merely accused of crimes who are poor often plead out though innocent because they fear the consequence of losing, though innocent.
@S_r_stone @johnldeboer IF they're not languishing in jail awaiting trial because they couldn't make bail. The system is set up for the 1%.
@ReneeVoiceBrand @S_r_stone Some places are considering doing away with cash bail to address the inequities in the system. I think Illinois is one of those.
@ReneeVoiceBrand @S_r_stone Many people don’t understand how the cash bail system works. If you’re rich and can post bail, you get it back when you show up for trial. But if you can only post bail through a bail bondsman, he gets back the money he posted on your behalf, and the 10% you paid him for doing that is his fee.
@johnldeboer @S_r_stone Money talks and the wealthy walk. A judge in Anaheim California allegedly KILLS his wife and he makes bail! Don't tell me the 1% aren't above the law.
@ReneeVoiceBrand @S_r_stone I’d be the last one to claim that! 😁
@johnldeboer Bail and bond are actually two different things. Bail is basically release under condition of good behavior and promise to appear before court. Bond is when you put up something as collateral.
Note that poor people typically get saddled with bonds that are prohibitively expensive, and Trump is allowed out on bail based on his word, which has zero value based on past experience, and his own statements.
The only time he keeps his word is when it is a threat.
@AskTheDevil Not quite right. Being let out without paying a fee, either through posting bail or securing a bail bond, is “release on one’s own recognizance.” Bail would be the money the court decrees to be the amount required to be free pending trial, and a bond is an arrangement with a bail bondsman to pay that amount on one’s behalf for a fee - usually 10%.
@johnldeboer But to be clear, a judge setting a fee is optional. A judge is not required to demand money as collateral.
@AskTheDevil That’s true. But it’s in the judge’s purview, and they can deviate from the prosecutor’s request.
@johnldeboer 'No one is above the law' has been the tagline for America's justice system but that's never been the case. Those who can afford to buy politicians to enact laws to keep them out of jail are the ones who ARE above the law.