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Comment by propman | Hacker News Reader

They were arrested and out on a $500k bail. The same happens for those now in jail for smoking pot or dealing or whatever. The trial is now going on and the prosecution thinks it has a potentially far bigger case that can net more on charges.

Holmes settled the civil case with the SEC I believe so she’s cleared there. She absolutely could be jailed for a long time, but the wheels of justice turn slowly.

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It's too easy to get rich by fraud and use it to pay for you bail out.

The wheels of justice turns slow if you have money.

Incarceration is supposed to protect the upcoming trial, from the accused fleeing, tampering with evidence or witnesses.

It is not a punitive measure. Innocent until proven guilty, etc.

So while it's fair to criticise the disparate abilities to post bail, changing the system to incarcerate more rich accused would just be compounding injustice.

On the other hand, in the UK: "Under s. 4 of the Bail Act 1976, on each occasion that a person is brought before a court accused of an offence, or remanded after conviction for enquiries or a report, he must be granted bail without condition, if none of the exceptions to bail apply."

https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/bail

Charging an arm and a leg to receive bail doesn't seem like it's serving any useful purpose?

Now you're getting some of the logic of civil asset forfeiture. (I don't support or not support it).

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