4 Ways That Bail Reduces Crime Rate

The court system’s ultimate goal is to help ensure the safest community possible. Some of the ways bail reduces crime can positively affect communities and law enforcement. The impact of bail bonds on community safety and crime rates is widely debated among politicians, media members, and communities at large. In this review, we take a close look at several ways that bail reduces crime rates.

1. Bail Bonds Encourage Court Appearance

One of the primary purposes of bail bonds is to act as a surety that the defendant shows up for their court date. The bond amount acts as this surety, ensuring that the defendant makes their court date on time. Without a cash bail, defendants are far more likely to skip their court appearance as there is less incentive to attend. Bail reduces crime rates by holding people accountable to the courts.

So, how does this impact crime rates? In essence, when an individual is less concerned with an upcoming court date or feels as if they can simply skip the court appearance if they are arrested in the future, they often become more likely to commit a crime. In other words, defendants are more likely to commit future crimes if they feel they are not being held accountable for the ones they have committed in the past. This, of course, has a negative impact on society and could compromise community safety.

2. Bail Systems Give the Judge Power to Keep Certain Criminals in Jail

The fact is some defendants who are charged with serious felonies may be best served awaiting trial under preventive detention, particularly if they are a risk to public safety. Surety bail reduces crime by keeping high-risk defendants under close monitoring if they end up posting bail.

For most states, the judge has the power to set the bail amount. If the judge has reason to believe the defendant is a high flight risk or is likely to commit another crime while awaiting trial, then they can deny bail altogether. Unfortunately, in many states where there is bail reform, more serious criminals are being allowed out without any bail, which can compromise public safety and increase crime rates.

3. Bail Bonds Can Help Avoid Overcrowding in Jails

Contrary to the beliefs of many who oppose cash bail, a surety bond system is designed to ensure defendants are able to prepare for and await trial outside of jail. A defendant who is not able to afford the bail amount can often receive the assistance they need through a bail bond company. In other words, there are options for all defendants to make bail, not just the rich.

Ultimately, since defendants are usually able to receive bail and leave jail while they await their court date (aside from defendants accused of a certain type of felony), fewer people are in jail. This reduces the tax obligation for the community and helps reduce the risk of repeat criminals in the future (see below).

4. Bail Bonds Help Reduce Recidivism Rates

It is well understood and documented that individuals who spend an extended amount of time in jail or prison are at a greater risk of committing crimes once they are out of jail. Bail bonds help minimize the amount of time an individual is in jail by allowing for fast bond relief. Consequently, bail reduces crime and recidivism rates overall and thereby allows for safer communities. Recidivism among young adults is a constant fight with no end in sight, bail may offer an alternative to those considered high-risk.

In Summary

These are some ways in which bail reduces crime. The accountability factor bail brings when someone is accused of a crime is key to a just system. Bail reduces crime by keeping individuals accountable after they have been formally charged with a crime allowing the Judicial system to continue. Bail bonds also play an important role in keeping the jail population low by offering affordable ways to get released on bail. The bail system’s main goal as mentioned at the beginning of this post is to keep communities safe. By keeping bail options open, defendants have a choice to remain free on bail while bail agencies take full responsibility for securing their return to court.

Contact the Bail Bondsmen in Connecticut at 3-D Bail Bonds

Here at 3-D Bail Bonds, we help defendants who are arrested spend as little time behind bars as possible after they are arrested. We have bondsmen available 24/7 all across Connecticut to assist with fast bond relief. If a loved one has been arrested and you need to bail them out of jail as quickly as possible, give us a call now.