Bail keeps jail stuffed with inmates.
April 1, 2013
Click here to read about the impact of bail on individuals and on the justice system.
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CJS-360 Diversity Issues 
This story shows truly that once you get in the system it is a revolving door. I don’t excuse committing crimes whatsoever but some crimes such as Chew’s and the others are somewhat petty. All the money that is spent to house people who commit smaller crimes are costing the tax payers triple the amount or more than what they stole in the first place. Often times when the poor can not make bail and by the time they actually accept a deal they could have been out of jail,went to court, paid restitution and be half way through their probation. Instead they end up pleading to a felony, taking up space in already overcrowded prison at the tax payers expense amongst other issues. It is impossible to think that these people will be productive members in society when they are released after serving their sentences. They have lost their jobs and it will be difficult to obtain another one due to the fact of their record, no transportation and many times have no shelter. I’m not sure what the answer is but in a case like Chew’s he could have gotten credit for timed served and reserved that jail space for someone who needs to be there that is committing violent offenses.
As far as bail bondsmen go, for many people this is their only option and as we read in the article it usually isn’t an option for the poor. 10% is alot for people when you have other priorities. Many times I believe judges set bail that they know from the start that people are unable to make, therefore contributing to overcrowding in jails. Bail is set up for the wealthy to benefit who are people we don’t see waiting in jails until court.
I agree with your comment on why judges set bail so high, so the offender will not be able to make it, therefore making the offender go get a bail bond. I wonder if privatized prisons and jails could attribute to the reasons some bail is getting set too high, more bodies to fill the jails? It may be a factor as well.
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This article is perfect evidence to how our criminal justice system handles the poor and uneducated. Which is to place them in jail?? When you read this I hope it sounds as absurd as it is, but unfortunately this is what is happening to non-violent offenders. They are begin housed in jails because of some petty crime they have committed. The article said 2/3 of the jail population is not violent criminals but petty offenders.
What needs to be done to stop what is happening? Why can’t the system see what it is creating, a revolving door in the criminal justice system for those individuals who have committed a petty offense. As well as creating an open door for the next generation either by having their parent or family member taken from them or by the state funding more jails and prisons instead of the school system or programs for the poor.
Endorsements to campaigns needs to be illegal, to be elected into office should not be about how much money you have or are willing to spend on campaign it should be about what you are willing not to do which is to support a corrupt system. This would end, what should be illegal, which is buying campaigns off and getting special attention later for doing so. Such is what happens with the bail bonding business. Then men/women who are running these scams are truly the ones who are dangerous to society and should be locked up, not chew, who had no money and to survive the cold night and needed some blankets.
This particular story illustrates how individuals are affected due to the lack of resources. Leslie Chew worked with his father on the oil rigs and due to that he was unable to attend school. Mr. Chew experienced disadvantages like not being able to read or write. Disadvantages could lead an individual to different paths in life. Sometimes those paths could either destroy our lives or encourage us. This all depends on the opportunities that are presented to each individual. Some people grow up in poverty and never get the chance to grow out of it because the resources are not available to them. Having the needed resources is an important aspect of our lives as well as our future. I am not saying what Mr. Chew did was right but I believe this particular individual simply did not know where he can get help. His action illustrates that he was unaware of the law or the outcome of his action at that particular moment. The security guard should also have addressed the situation differently. Instead of running out of the store Mr. Chew was walking out and clearly told the security guard the truth about not having money to pay for the blankets. If I was the security guard I would have explained to Mr. Chew the outcome of his action and ask questions to better assist Mr. Chew. This whole situation could have been avoided by simply addressing the issue differently. Unfortunately, Mr. Chew was arrested and has been in jail since his arrest. There are many cases like this and inmates who are not dangerous or a threat to society are sitting behind bars. This is due to some inmates not being able to make bail as well as not having the resources they need to better understand their cases and how their cases could be addressed. This is an ongoing issue that needs better future implementations in place. If we provide better resources to families or to those who simply need it, problems like this could be eliminated. Instead we are overpopulating our prisons with people like Mr. Chew. This article illustrated the ongoing struggle within our society. The law should represent everyone but this particular article shows that money talks. We should not mistreat people within the criminal justice system due to their lack of knowledge or resources. The law should serve everyone no matter the circumstances.
I like how you explained how the situation could of been handled differently. I also like the fact that you addresses the struggle of our society. I agree that we are a struggling society. Yes, the lack of resources is a big issue in the world. There are many disparities that limit individuals from seeking the advice or help they need in criminal cases.
This article is a perfect example to show how flawed our criminal justice system is. There are a lot of disparities that seem to be over looked. One issue is the amount of individuals sitting in prison awaiting sentencing for crimes that are nonviolent and minor. There is power in money. The poor are housed in our prison systems. The rich or those able to make bail are those who get out and think nothing of the crime they have committed. The article was a real eye opener. There is something seriously wrong with the fact that a small amount of bail is what keeps you from the being in prison or out of it. Our criminal justice system needs a serious reevaluation on sentencing guidelines and state laws. We need to focus more on rehabilitation than building of jails.