Yesterday, WiseDime discussed the rising costs of prisons and the alarming number of incarcerated citizens that are causing the price of prison life to exceed beyond limits. Now, another story about jails and money is in the news, so we figured we would follow up on this reporting as well.
California has become the first state in the U.S. to ban cash bail on suspects awaiting for their trial. While this won’t take place until October 1st, 2019, it is a huge step in recognizing how the wage gap and poverty levels are negatively affecting the justice system. People who are financially wealthy are able to roam free while awaiting trial while those lacking finances are stuck in cells, and it just doesn’t seem fair.
The United States was a country built on equality, and while history has shown that we as citizens have faltered with that before, now is a chance to make it up. California will now have a bail system that assesses the risk factor of incoming suspects on whether or not they will be allowed out of jail before their hearing. That way, no matter if rich or poor, everyone has an equal shot at obtaining bail.
