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American Exception: Illegal Globally, Bail for Profit Remains in U.S.

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

January 29, 2008, NY Times American Exception Illegal Globally, Bail for Profit Remains in U.S. By ADAM LIPTAK FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ? Wayne Spath is a bail bondsman, which means he is an insurance salesman, a social worker, a lightly regulated law enforcement agent, a real estate appraiser ? and a for-profit wing of the American justice system. What he does, which is posting bail for people accused of crimes in exchange for a fee, is all but unknown in the rest of the world. In England, Canada and other countries, agreeing to pay a defendant?s bond in exchange for money is a crime akin to witness tampering or bribing a juror ? a form of obstruction of justice. Mr. Spath, who is burly, gregarious and intense, owns Brandy Bail Bonds, and he sees his clients in a pleasant and sterile office building just down the street from the courthouse here...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on February 03, 2008 (boomark / email).