The War in America

[txa1265]

I never understood the bailsystem of the US. If you have money you can just gtfo of prison???

Bail allows you to be out of jail while awaiting trial for the majority of crimes ... but it is actually a monetary hold placed on your showing up to trial.

So yes it is economically biased - rich people get out, poor people rot in jail awaiting trial. But wait, there's more ...

Naturally when you have a 'justice' system that targets BIPOC (blacks, indigenous, people of color) at ~4x rate as whites for same crimes, this system will exploit the systemic economic differences, and end up with more poor people of color stuck in jail for up to two years waiting for court dates, during which time regardless of guilt their lives are destroyed. And there is evidence that our prison system never rehabilitates, so even this 'hold awaiting trial' tends to harden people and even innocents end up more likely to commit crimes later.

In other words, the system is working exactly as the rich white men who designed it, intended.

 

[Thiraury]

You would think that there would be a strong political will to change the system if it's as bad as you describe.

 

[JDR13]

There's truth to what he said, but that's not the whole story. While the majority of crimes do allow for a bail, a judge doesn't have to approve it. They can deny a request for bail for serious offenses. The judge usually also decides the amount if there is a bail.

Generally, the system does favor people with more money, though I'm sure the US isn't the only place where it's like that.

 

[txa1265]

There's truth to what he said, but that's not the whole story. While the majority of crimes do allow for a bail, a judge doesn't have to approve it. They can deny a request for bail for serious offenses. The judge usually also decides the amount if there is a bail.

You're correct - and there is tons of evidence to show that the likelihood of both denied bail and high bail is strongly correlated with race, intersectional with being a man. (so black men get worst treatment by judges)

 

[SveNitoR]

The cynical part in me thinks this about the American prisons: They are profit driven and therefore have zero interest in reducing future crime. More crime = more money.

Plus the American justice system seems almost vindictive, with little regard for rehabilitation or treatment for the inmates that want to change.

 

[Dez]

Quote of the day: “I prefer Presidents who don’t fall asleep before the lunch break in their hush money paid to a porn star election interference trial,”

 

[Couchpotato]

Good one but part if that can be used against Biden as well.

 

[HellRazor]

You would think that there would be a strong political will to change the system if it's as bad as you describe.

There isn't - because most of our politicians are the same rich and entitled people whom the system protects.

 

[Carnifex]

And that seems to be an almost inherent problem/issue when you really only have two viable parties.

 

[HellRazor]

And that seems to be an almost inherent problem/issue when you really only have two viable parties.

And the massive, near-unrestricted influx of cash and dark money to politicians from corporations, lobbies, and special interests. Every one of them is bought and paid for, which is why most politicians are wealthy. The power of the vote is the only thing they fear. Meanwhile, most voters are intellectually lazy, uninformed, and uninvolved, and won't hold politicians' feet to the fire. It's a pretty disgusting state of affairs. This is how we end up with so many greedy and corrupt opportunists (not to mention flat-out stupid and crazy assholes) in government.