NPR story reveals 9 Billion Dollars a year is spent housing people who can't make bail
January 21, 2010: National Public Radio story reveals that overburdened local governments spend over $9 Billion (with a B) Dollars housing people who have been arrested, are awating trial, and can't afford to post bail some as low as fifty dollars. These are people a judge has determined are not dangerous, not a threat to society, not likely to intimidate witnesses, and not likely to run. They have not been found guilty. They simply have no money and are awaiting trial. Some plead guilty to crimes they have not committed just to get out of jail as waiting for a trial could take months or even years. In order to post bond, many people have to pay professional bail bondsmen a non-refundable percentage, usually between 10-15% of the bail to have the bail bondsmen pledge to pay the bail amount if the Defendant does not appear in court. In some counties, tax payers pay a quarter of every tax dollar housing these pre-trial arrestees. A law enforcement industrial complex has grown up around the practice producing large profits for bail bonding firms. With these large profits, political lobbyist have followed close behind under the rallying cry "tough on crime" pressuring politicians, judges and sheriffs to set high bonds and fighting pre-trial release programs which save taxpayers millions and bail bonding firms see as stealing their business. In one particular case, a county has spent over $7,000.00 housing a man awaiting trial for stealing blankets to stay warm and if he plead guilty he would likely only receive a probation sentence. To read the story click here.
To obtain legal advice, please call (770) 961-5511 or email George C. Creal, Jr., P.C. at firm@georgialawyer.com. George C. Creal, Jr., P.C. is a law firm representing those charged with DUI or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We have been representing DUI Defendants for ten years in the City of Atlanta, Acworth, Alpharetta, Athens, Austell, Avondale Estates, Ball Ground, Barnesville, Big Canoe, Calhoun, Canton, Carnesville, Carrollton, Cedartown, Chatsworth, Chattahooche Hills, Clarkston, College Park, Commerce, Conyers, Covington, Dahlonega, Dallas, Decatur, Doraville, Douglasville, Duluth, Dunwoody, East Point, Fairburn, Forest Park, Forsyth, Fort McPherson, Fort Gillem, Gainesville, Grayson, Griffin, Hampton, Hapeville, Helen, Holly Springs, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Kennesaw, LaGrange, Lake City, Lawrenceville, Locust Grove, Loganville, Lovejoy, Marietta, McDonough, Morrow, Newnan, Norcross, Palmetto, Peachtree City, Powder Springs, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Senoia, Smyrna, Stockbridge, Stone Mountain, Suwanee, Thomaston, Tucker, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock, and Zebulon and their surrounding counties including Fulton, Clayton, DeKalb, Henry, Fayette, Rockdale, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Forsyth, Coweta, Cobb, Douglas and Spalding. We also represent Defendants upon request outside of the Atlanta area throughout the State of Georgia.
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January 21, 2010: National Public Radio story reveals that overburdened local governments spend over $9 Billion (with a B) Dollars housing people who have been arrested, are awating trial, and can't afford to post bail some as low as fifty dollars. These are people a judge has determined are not dangerous, not a threat to society, not likely to intimidate witnesses, and not likely to run. They have not been found guilty. They simply have no money and are awaiting trial. Some plead guilty to crimes they have not committed just to get out of jail as waiting for a trial could take months or even years. In order to post bond, many people have to pay professional bail bondsmen a non-refundable percentage, usually between 10-15% of the bail to have the bail bondsmen pledge to pay the bail amount if the Defendant does not appear in court. In some counties, tax payers pay a quarter of every tax dollar housing these pre-trial arrestees. A law enforcement industrial complex has grown up around the practice producing large profits for bail bonding firms. With these large profits, political lobbyist have followed close behind under the rallying cry "tough on crime" pressuring politicians, judges and sheriffs to set high bonds and fighting pre-trial release programs which save taxpayers millions and bail bonding firms see as stealing their business. In one particular case, a county has spent over $7,000.00 housing a man awaiting trial for stealing blankets to stay warm and if he plead guilty he would likely only receive a probation sentence. To read the story click here.
