To the editor:
I have been thinking about the over-crowding of our county jail.
Maybe changing the law to allow bail bondsman to operate it would help in the situation.
As I understand, if someone is jailed, a cash bond must be posted to get out. The cost can be $1,000. Many people do not have that amount of cash, so they are left to sit in jail at least until they either see the judge or someone from their family makes the posting. I am not sure of the minimum money required, but many times I have seen this amount requested.
Let us consider changing the plan and allowing a bail-bondsman to take the risk. Then the person who is jailed will only have to post a smaller amount. There are some people who are jailed on small crimes that are not a great risk. This might help in reducing the number of those that are forced to remain in jail because they cannot pay, thus contributing to the over-crowding issue. I personally know of an individual in which this happened.
David Oakes
Greenfield
