Rich Justice Poor Justice

Let’s talk about bail. Specifically, let’s talk about something small, like $1,000 bail for an attempted robbery. Can you afford that? According to CNBC news, you probably can’t. 69% of our nation cannot afford an unexpected $1,000 emergency expense (which I would argue bail qualifies). What happens next?

Whoever was arrested for the attempted robbery couldn’t likely afford bail, and now must sit in jail until their trial happens, which in Florida for example, can be as long as 90-180 days. So for 90-180 days, that person sits in jail, and can’t do their job if they have one. Therefore, they can’t pay their rent, car note, or credit card bill, and their things are slowly being repossessed. Rare is the employer who can afford to keep someone on the payroll for doing nothing while they’re sitting in jail, so kiss that job goodbye. Now, day 90, or 180, arrives. It turns out they didn’t do it. Honest mistake—someone thought they saw something they didn’t and it comes out in court.

Our thought experiment protagonist is released to no job, no home, no car, possibly no family.

What happens if the person is in that 31% who can absorb a random $1,000 emergency expense? Nothing. They pay the bail, go to work as usual, pay their bills as usual. The day comes and goes for trial, and they’re found not guilty (same trial, same honest mistake). All because they have money and the other people didn’t.

That’s what this podcast is about. Two justice systems: one for the rich, one for the poor. That, and integrity. Listen for both.