In America's justice system, bail often provides an option for defendants to avoid biding time in prison; however, for many low-income defendants, bail isn't an option. The NY Daily News recently ran a story on bail as a form of punishment for low-income New Yorkers and the human rights implications of it, written by Jamie Fellner at the Human Rights Watch. Especially for misdemeanors, bail can establish serious consequences for those who can't pay up, even if the sum seems relatively low. Check out the story below, as well as the full report published by the Human Rights Watch, titled "Price of Freedom: Bail and Pre-trial Detention of Low Income Nonfelony Defendants in New York City."
NY Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/12/09/2010-12-09_bail_equals_jail_an_equation_that_punishes_new_yorks_poorest.html#ixzz17dO0Tgz0
Human Rights Watch report: http://www.hrw.org/en/node/94574/section/1
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