In a thoughtful move designed to provide fair treatment to low income defendants, the state of California has passed Senate Bill 10. This law pertains to bail system that is currently cash based.
The cash bail system involves the accused paying a sum of money to the court as assurance that they will appear in court for the trial. Paying bail releases the accused from incarceration till the time of trial or arraignment. This system is a significant disadvantage to the those from the lower income brackets. It is shocking to learn that two thirds of the inmates in prison are those who are awaiting trial and cannot afford bail. Apart from being unfair to the defender, it is a drain on the State’s resources to house inmates that do not have to be there.
And so, Senate Bill 10 was formulated and passed in California with the intent to …