POST-CONVICTION BONDS<\/b><\/p>\n
By Sue Doyle<\/b><\/p>\n
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Get-tough-on-crime laws have packed prisons to capacity and do nothing to rehabilitate offenders. Post-conviction bonds could change all that.<\/p>\n
With the help of bail agents, post-conviction bonds could be issued to eligible inmates who are then connected to the criminal justice system through the bonds and guaranteed through surety companies.<\/p>\n
Once outside of prison, they are guided through outside programs to learn trades, job skills and lead productive lives. These new steps could lower recidivism rates and reduce prison populations.<\/p>\n
Although prison populations are bursting at the seams in Ohio, judges are reluctant to release prisoners early, said Russo.<\/p>\n
During 2006, there were 100 early releases out of 17,000 indictments in Cuyahoga County.<\/p>\n
After leaving prison, inmates come under the probation departments, which enforce rules. But probation officers do not go after those released when something goes wrong. Instead, its law enforcement that shows up, but only when ex-prisoners are caught committing another crime. \u201cThat lack of accountability has made judges uncomfortable,\u201d Russo said.<\/p>\n
But the outcomes change when bail bondsmen are involved, because they include sureties.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have you in the middle to help me find this person,\u201d Russo said.<\/p>\n
In addition, families of the inmates are involved because they are usually the ones putting up the money to release their loved ones from behind bars.<\/p>\n
At the same time, they would incur a financial loss if the person does not follow the rules. So these family members or friends have a vested interest in helping the released inmate follow the rules, Russo said. This extra layer of involvement also makes judges comfortable with post-conviction bonds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe attitude can\u2019t always be lock everybody up, because we know that 99 percent of the people come home,\u201d Russo said. \u201cAnd we do nothing on the back end to help with that transition.\u201d<\/p>\n
The need to take a new approach with criminals and prisons has begun post-conviction bond conversations across the country.<\/p>\n
In Texas, the popular attitude to crime was to construct more prisons. But the rhetoric has changed after crime rates have continued to soar and offenders have been returned to prisons.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if we build more prisons, 10 years from now, we\u2019ll be faced with these same problems,\u201d said Watkins. \u201cWe have to incorporate different philosophies, different solutions and incorporate rehabilitation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost tragic in this era of tough crime laws are the innocent people who\u2019ve been locked up,\u201d Watkins said.<\/p>\n
In the end, it benefits society the most to look at prison treatment from a smart perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know tough doesn\u2019t work. We know soft doesn\u2019t work,\u201d said Watkins. \u201cLet\u2019s be smart about it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Get-tough-on-crime laws have packed prisons to capacity and do nothing to rehabilitate offenders. Post-Conviction Bonds could change all that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[63],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n