Prompt Cast
The Process of Bail and Getting Out of Jail Explained
TLDR Bail is a monetary system that allows individuals to exchange money for freedom after being arrested. Bail schedules, bail bondsmen, and different types of bail are all part of the process, but there are also issues with the system such as unfairness and abuse.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This podcast episode is about how bail works and the process of getting out of jail before your court date.
03:22
Bail is money exchanged for freedom after being arrested, and it originated in the UK in the 13th century as a person who would stand in as surety, but eventually evolved into a monetary system that was adopted in the United States through the Judiciary Act of 1789 and remained largely unchanged until 1966.
06:51
Bail schedules are used in some places, like Los Angeles, to determine the amount of bail based on the crime committed, and if a person cannot afford the full bail amount, they can call a bail bondsman who will put up the money for a fee and may require collateral or assistance from friends and family.
09:52
There are different types of bail, including released on citation and released on recognizance, and in some cases, people can use their property as collateral to a bail bondsman.
13:07
When signing a bail bond contract, it's important to be aware that you are signing away certain rights and should make sure the bail bondsman is responsive and easily contacted, and to check their credentials and fees.
16:30
Pre-trial programs that release people with ankle monitoring systems and GPS tracking were successful in Broward County, but funding for the program was cut due to lobbying and bribes from bail bondsmen, leaving poor individuals unable to afford bail stuck in jail at the taxpayer's expense.
19:58
Bail bondsmen often don't pay up when someone they bailed out skips town, and even when they do have to pay, they negotiate to only pay a small percentage of the actual bail, leaving them with a profit.
23:22
A doctor went against the wishes of a Jehovah's Witness family and gave their child a blood transfusion, saving his life and ultimately turning the doctor into a hero.
Categories:
Society & Culture
