When someone is released on “personal recognizance,” this means that the

A large proportion of the people who are behind bars are not convicted criminals but are people who have been arrested and are being held until their trial in court. Experts have often pointed out that this detention system does not operate fairly. For instance, a person who can afford to pay bail usually will not stay locked up. The theory of the bail system is that the person will make sure to show up in court on time because otherwise he will forfeit his bail—he will lose the money he has put up. Sometimes a person who can show that he is a stable citizen with a job and a family will be... Show more

A large proportion of the people who are behind bars are not convicted criminals but are people who have been arrested and are being held until their trial in court. Experts have often pointed out that this detention system does not operate fairly. For instance, a person who can afford to pay bail usually will not stay locked up. The theory of the bail system is that the person will make sure to show up in court on time because otherwise he will forfeit his bail—he will lose the money he has put up. Sometimes a person who can show that he is a stable citizen with a job and a family will be released on “personal recognizance” (without bail). The result is that well-to-do, employed, or family people often avoid the detention system. The people who do wind up in detention tend to be poor, unemployed, single, and young.    

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