are bail bondsmen archaic and should they be eliminated from the criminal justice system?
357940
I think we need them because most people that use them have to put up most of what they own to get out of jail and if the person want to try and flee the bail bondsmen have bounty hunters that will go after them at no cost to the tax payers,  it is less of a problem the police are over worked and short handed as it is so it can be hard for them to go after someone not that the don't try.  but it helps out the police because there are people actively hunting the guy that fled.  Most officers that recover a fugitive end up not knowing they have the person until they check there id with dispatch.  so it is a great help in recovering people that have fled.  Also by being able to bail out of jail a person is better able to actively work on there case.
661030
I have a very strong viewpoint on what prisonsers should and should not have available to them.  I my opinion, prisoners should have NOTHING other than the bare necessities.  They are in prison for a reason - they broke laws.  Why should they be given opportunities that the rest of us have to work hard to get?  They are not paying mortgages or rent, food or utility bills, and do not have to worry about commuting to work every day and paying the extrordinary amount we all have to pay for gas these days. Yet they are fed 3 meals a day, have television and a library, are allowed to work out, study and get college degrees and not pay a cent for any of it, except their freedom !!!  \n\nI worked in criminal court for over 15 years and many times when a defendant was sentenced to the mid-term sentence, they requested longer and stated that it is easier for them in prison than in the real world where they can't find jobs, don't have enough money to live, and have other stresses.\n\nI think that prisons should be a punishment, not a reward!
366030
I think when jail sentences are determined kids are considered. If having a woman in for a long time is going to leave a child homeless, and the woman is not violent and not a danger to the child then society might be better off with a more lenient probation than crowding both the jail and foster system that are both overburdened.
770968
I.D. cards are irrelevant. Successful deterrents will lower crimes rates. We have to stop this "You naughty naughty felon, don't do that again" attitude to criminals
20829
The Prison system shifted from being for reform to being punitive long ago, thus there has been a decrease in programs (vocation, education) in many prison systems.  \n\nPersonally, I think they should have more programs available.  Especially for non-violent drug/property crimes.
520167
thom has a point but surely you must know thom that we are referring to the pedophiles and child rapists. Personally I don't think these creeps should be fed on taxpayers money. Let them do manual labor and earn their keep instead of giving them a gym to work out in so they can become a threat to the prison guards. Execution gets a nod from me as does setting them loose in the south and telling some good ole red necks where and when they'll be dropped off. Those backwoods boys'll fix 'em good ...lol
914165
Absouletly. In UK we have to many liberals keen to protect the rights of criminals but the victim is sadly lost in the process. If rehabilitation can be acheived in the criminal justice system that's great but it is primarily but punishment and the punishment should reflect the crime. I am not a fan of habging but we should use lethal injection in cases like this.
167923
What do you mean abolished? All civilized countried abolished it long time ago... \nAny idea of abolishing dp because it's cheaper to lock someone for life is quite cinical, it was abolished on humanitarian grounds and it's irreversibility (yes, some juridical systems are humble enought to admit they might make a misstake)
420721
I agree with DBK.  Prisons should be a punishment for what the criminals did.  How is it really punishing them to give them free food, free clothing, free cable, free Internet, a free gym, free medical and dental care, etc?  And to not require them to work?  How are they punished when they spend their days lounging around, or playing football in the yard, working out in the gym, or kicking back watching movies?  Sounds more like a vacation to me.\n\nBut back to the question.  Criminals are able to do this because liberal in society have set it up so they can. They set it up so that people can claim they are not responsible for their own actions. As for the poor excuse about criminals being abused, my mother's father was abusive to her, and to her brothers and sisters, and not one of them became criminals.  I was physically, mentally and emotionally abused in catholic school and did not turn out to be a criminal.  So that is just another lame excuse.
834317
I don't think they are "good" for the person that is in them in any way (except maybe that they an't survive outside them?). They are good for society to keep people who are dangerous locked up. Personally, for people who are not a danger to society I would rather see more creative sentencing. Cons should have to give all the money they took back plus interest. Drunk drivers should have to work in hospitals with accident victims. Slumlords should have to live in their rat-infested apartments. Drive home the damage a crime does.
1153874
I have no objection to capitol punishment.  I agree that if the criminal is truly guilty, beyond a shadow of doubt, then by all means, eliminate him from society in the most expeditious manner available!\n\nUnfortunately, the modern US legal system isn't perfect.  There have been several cases in the past where a person convicted of a crime and sentenced to death has later been proved innocent of that crime.  \n\nWould you want to be the one who pushes the button on an innocent man?
1127378
Guess they just don't want to deal with the hassle of converting it if you default on your bail.  That's what a bail bondsman is for.
457608
your not out of line, you are entitled to your opinion\n\nbank robbers arent violent, fraudsters arent violent, fraud is on the increase especially with the internet, and recently i got my bank details swiped.\n\nThese people arent violent, but are the scurge of society, and stil need to be imprisoned for some amount of time, AND THEN SHOULD BE TAGGED PERHAPS. or need a slap....\n\nI am sure some non-violent criminals who are serving shorter sentence could be let out earlier with tagging. However Tagging doesn't stop their need for drugs once they're back outside. And crime is how they fund a daily habit. As for drug dealers many just see prison as an occupational hazard.\n \nKeeping people in prison must be costing us as tax payers an awful lot of money\n\nThe prison system would not be as critical as it is now if the law was harsher on criminals. Some sentences are too lenient and to not deter people from re-offending. Also prisons are too easy once you are in there.\n\nAll those in prison are there for a reason - ie they've done something that incurs their loss of liberty. Prison should be hard, real hard. Sentences should be served in full. Many people have been affected by crime and deserve Justice.\n\nI do not think more prison should be built, because more prison will make more prisoners, Prison often serves as a school for criminals, especially first time offenders. Build more prisons, generate more prisoners.\n\nUnless we plan to lock criminals away permanently we need to devise a more long term strategy to prevent re-offending. The government needs to use its brains rather than brawn here.
1070462
I commend you on your question and I agree with you 110% there should be something a amendment in the laws to seperate a  person who was convicted of a felony and what there crime was or some type of system that seperate's the one's who commit murder vs someone who does drug's or larceny etc. The one's who commit the crime's against children these sick,perverted animal's and crimes of rape should be put on a island to themselves they should not be allowed back into society how many of these animal's have they given a second chance to and were released back into society for them to have said I'm sick who's child did they kidnap,rape and discard their bodie's like trash I do not have any remorse for these animal's I think our government should set up a island and ship the people who commit this type of crime's and let them fend for themselves if they die there so what ? at least our taxpayer's money isn't being wasted.  I don't think everyone convicted of a felony are bad people I think maybe, circumstance,poor judgement and other factor's should be examined before , you judge every convicted felon a bad person they need a second chance to show society they have changed poor choice's sometime's is all it take's.
617943
There are no reasonable cons (pardon the pun).  Either a person makes a difference and contributes to society and the betterment of everyone or a person is a criminal and takes from others.  Unless a prisoner changes his or her attitude to respect others, society will lose.
635583
It is a deterrent.\n\nor\n\nIt is cheaper than keeping those folks in prison for life\n\nor\n\nEye-for-eye, they should 'pay' for their crime with something equal like their life.
699794
a lot easier than their victims- i'm talking sex offenders and murderers and drug dealers here. Too easy.\n\nBut money/fraud crimes- they should give something back to the community, not be treated the same as above. i.e non violent criminals, but not ones that prey on old folk though- they are bad too.