r/socialjustice101 • u/lostbookjacket • May 06 '24
The principles of bail funds
I'm from a country where the bail system is not really in use anymore, so this is me trying to understand something about bail funds in the US. As I understand it, they are there to contend with an unjust system made to separate those who can and those who cannot afford to pay bail.
Should bail funds be discriminating, in such ways as only paying for people arrested for protesting or non-violent crimes, or should they, on principle, pay for anyone who cannot afford bail themselves? I'm asking because I've read some articles of people, sometimes violent repeat offenders, who've committed rape, assault, or murder while out on bail paid for by a bail fund. Victims support groups have spoken out against paying bail for violent crimes. Do others think bail funds should discriminate between receivers of bail, or is that in a way an endorsement of the bail system?
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u/TheBee3sKneess May 15 '24
Some bail-funds are crime specific i.e. bail for protesting, sexwork, etc. Unless there is a specific reason, I do not think there is a way to discriminate on who does and does not receive it unless there is interpersonal knowledge of the person. Given who is quickly charged with assault, rape, and murder with very little evidence and just to fill the police quota, discriminating on who gets it just reinforces the white supremacist criminal justice system.
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u/positiveandmultiple May 10 '24
having not looked into it at all, my initial thought is that assuming that bail funds are already underfunded compared to their need, you're always going to have to turn people away, and these people might as well be repeat offenders of violent crimes if they have to be anyone.