Earlier today I saw an email about an upcoming piece on National Public Radio (“NPR”) about the bail system in the United States. This piece, which appears to have been written by advocates of government sponsored pre-trial release systems proclaims that the private bail system may be “costing tax payers billions, while preventing more successful, less costly rehabilitation programs from gaining traction.” This proposition is completely ridiculous. On the contrary, the bail system saves tax payer dollars by providing a private sector solution to defendants waiting resolution of their criminal cases. The services of the bail industry are provided without any tax payer dollars funding our system. Moreover, agents throughout the country work very hard to accommodate as many people as they possibly can in a way that is highly responsible and it assures the appearance of the defendant back in court.
New Blog Posting…NPR – National Public Radio…or shall we say…National Pro-Government Radio?
The representation that government sponsored release systems are “more successful” and “less costly rehabilitation programs” is similarly ludicrous. Many studies, including those conducted by the federal government’s bureau of justice statistics have shown that releasing defendants through government sponsored programs while they are awaiting trial is a highly ineffective method of assuring the defendants appearance back in court. Further, such government sponsored get out of jail free programs, are more.