The Justice Department behind the Obama administration is making efforts to further protect defendants’ rights, especially those who come from the lower classes. They’re arguing, before a federal appeals court for the first time, that it is unconstitutional to hold defendants in jail when they cannot afford to post bail. It’s a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The filing stems from the case of Maurice Walker of Georgia. Walker was arrested for being a “pedestrian under the influence,” a misdemeanor crime. He was held on a $160 bail, which he could not afford; he was kept in jail for 6 nights. In Walker’s case, he was eventually granted release on own recognizance. But of course, there are supporters and opposers of both sides.
All defendants are to be protected against excessive bail, but “excessive” is relative to each and every person because each and every person is in a different personal and financial situation.
Bail Bond Store in Orange County is here to help try and alleviate stress on paying for bail by offering affordable bail bonds with a payment schedule. The cost of a bail bond is dependant on the cost of the bail; the bail bond will be 10% of the full bail amount.