4 ms·

So, rephrasing: fair trials in the USA are actually a comforting myth, and you won't get one. Occasionally they will do one to keep the myth alive, but the real

by dTal 2y ago

So, rephrasing: fair trials in the USA are actually a comforting myth, and you won't get one. Occasionally they will do one to keep the myth alive, but the reality is that due process is dead, and if the DA accuses you of something you have no recourse. Because of some legacy paperwork, they're technically not allowed to just chuck you in the slammer unless you admit to the crime, so they threaten you until any reasonable person would confess out of self preservation. Real bastion of freedom, the United States.

scotty79 2y ago
Exactly.
NoMoreNicksLeft 2y ago
That's not how it works either. Plea deals hold their extortive power through the fact that it's often the only way people can get out of jail pre-trial when they can't afford excessive bail. But rather than doing bail reform which would fix that problem, we have the left getting rid of bail entirely in situations where it is inappropriate to do so. This means violent criminals can wreak more mayhem while released awaiting trial so that the right can complain about it and we'll swing right back to excessive bail. The bail bondsman industry is basically this gigantic leach sucking bail money out of our country, but it has lobbyists and can't be banned outright. Bail is not supposed to be a pre-conviction fine, but when you have to go to a bail bondsman you don't get your bail money back even if you show for trial. If you could pony up the cash in its entirety, it's just "held", and you get it if you show for trial. Even if convicted, you get it back (it's not a fine). Making bail bonding illegal would be a good start to fixing the problem, but it's politically unviable. Attack plea bargains first, DAs and prosecutors can't put up the same kind of political fight that the bonding industry can. Your dumb rhetoric makes the problem worse, because everyone can tell it's made up horseshit and if you're lying about the details they figure you're lying about the problem too.

by dTal 2y ago

scotty79 2y ago

Exactly.

NoMoreNicksLeft 2y ago

That's not how it works either. Plea deals hold their extortive power through the fact that it's often the only way people can get out of jail pre-trial when they can't afford excessive bail. But rather than doing bail reform which would fix that problem, we have the left getting rid of bail entirely in situations where it is inappropriate to do so. This means violent criminals can wreak more mayhem while released awaiting trial so that the right can complain about it and we'll swing right back to excessive bail. The bail bondsman industry is basically this gigantic leach sucking bail money out of our country, but it has lobbyists and can't be banned outright. Bail is not supposed to be a pre-conviction fine, but when you have to go to a bail bondsman you don't get your bail money back even if you show for trial. If you could pony up the cash in its entirety, it's just "held", and you get it if you show for trial. Even if convicted, you get it back (it's not a fine). Making bail bonding illegal would be a good start to fixing the problem, but it's politically unviable. Attack plea bargains first, DAs and prosecutors can't put up the same kind of political fight that the bonding industry can. Your dumb rhetoric makes the problem worse, because everyone can tell it's made up horseshit and if you're lying about the details they figure you're lying about the problem too.