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Colorado Ballot Initiative Would Effectively Deny Bond to Poor

Prop. 102 is on the Colorado ballot and it's a terrible idea. It would require many defendants to pay to get out of jail.

[Prop]102 prohibits the release of a defendant on an unsecured bond to supervision by a pretrial-services program unless that defendant was arrested for a first-offense nonviolent misdemeanor.

Law enforcement officers, prosecutors and defense lawyers have formed a coalition to oppose the measure. Who is in favor of the bill? The bail bond industry. [More...]

Critics of the proposition predict its passage would cause costs to escalate, because indigent defendants wouldn't be able to afford the bonds and would end up staying longer in jail. Some of those who post the bonds also would end up having to seek representation from publicly funded lawyers, they add. Jails also would clog due to an increase in the time needed to process the additional bonds, they predict.

The Colorado Blue Book states passage of the measure would cost the state an additional $2.8 million.

The question posed by Prop. 102 (see page 46):

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Revised Statutes requiring that only defendants arrested for a first offense, non violent misdemeanor may be recommended for release or actually released to a pretrial services
program's supervision in lieu of a cash, property, or professional surety bond?

The fine print:

In making recommendations for appropriate conditions on release for a person in custody, only defendants who are arrested for their first offense, non violent misdemeanor may be recommended for release to a pretrial services program's supervision in lieu of a cash, property, or professional surety bond, as set forth in C.R.S. 16-4-104.

Vote No on 102.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Hey, Colorado (5.00 / 0) (#1)
    by MO Blue on Tue Oct 12, 2010 at 01:39:12 PM EST
    can close a lot of schools, fire teachers, fireman, police and cut all spending on providing services and they will have plenty of money to build new jails to house the people denied bond.

    Just need to get the priorities straight. :-(

    There are already plenty... (5.00 / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 12, 2010 at 01:42:01 PM EST
    of stark differences between poor man's justice and rich man's justice...last thing Colorado or anybody needs is another.

    What an awful idea...for humane and economic reasons.  Rotting in a cage before trial should be reserved for the seriously hopelessly violent and severe flight risks only...having no money or assets alone shouldn't equal a pre-trial jail sentence.

    Sigh (none / 0) (#3)
    by Zorba on Tue Oct 12, 2010 at 05:53:39 PM EST
    I guess the bail bond industry is part of the prison-industrial industry.  Human rights means nothing, as long as they can make some money.  I don't even recognize my country any more.

    For a simpleton like myself... (none / 0) (#4)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Oct 12, 2010 at 08:07:49 PM EST
    ...it is usually comes down to "no on the numbers and yes on the letters".  After going through my Blue Book, I see nothing to dissuade me from using that formula this year.

    Unfortunately in today' prison nation (of which Colorado is a BIG player) and sadly under educated voters, this may well pass.

     

    Why do the bill's backers hate America? (none / 0) (#5)
    by Yes2Truth on Wed Oct 13, 2010 at 10:00:01 AM EST

    The surprise will come whenever it's revealed how
    many "prominent" politicians own bail bond co's.

    Why do so many politicians hate America?

    This is the logical outcome (none / 0) (#6)
    by Harry Saxon on Wed Oct 13, 2010 at 10:36:09 AM EST
    of "compassionate conservatism".