Whats the purpose of bail?

[Reeve]

IANAL, but I believe Canada has a similar right. Unfortunately, it's effectively just an empty promise as it's rarely enforced.

See, here, if they deny you a right like that, you can get it declared a mistrial and go free, and you can't then be tried a second time for the same crime. So police and prosecutors have every incentive not to fuck that up.

[drwelfare]

To ensure you show up for court and amount should give you reason not to run.

Lately it seems to be used as punishment or people get bail who shouldnt while others dont even get a bond set.

[PACOX]

Bail does nothing but clog the system with poor people, or even worse, force them into plea bargains so they don't rot in jail/can go home and pay their bills.

Stay in jail and hope you get a court date soon or waive your trail to get out early.

[shadowmatrix]

Bail is still around because the jails are not big enough to hold all the people accused of crimes. If you take away bail every city will need to have a large prison to hold people till their trials come around, which could be 6-12 months away and then another 2-4 months for the trial itself.

[PACOX]

Bail is still around because the jails are not big enough to hold all the people accused of crimes. If you take away bail every city will need to have a large prison to hold people till their trials come around, which could be 6-12 months away and then another 2-4 months for the trial itself.

Why are we holding people who are presumably innocent though? You shouldn't be spending months behind bars without being convicted of anything just because you can't afford bail. Either hold them because they are a flight risk or let them go until their day in court. Innocent or guilty, most people who find themselves behind bars are not flight risk. You might have to send a sheriff their way on their court date but they aren't flight risk. All bail does is punish those who can't afford it. All of that is without discussing the BS authority that bails bondsmen have.

[Doctor Amadeus]

According to GTA it so you can get out of jail and silence the witnesses