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Raleigh, NC
Melanie Chernoff | As Public Policy Manager for Red Hat, Inc., Melanie monitors, evaluates, and works to influence U.S. and international legislation and government regulations affecting open source technologies and open standards. She also serves as chair of the company's Corporate Citizenship committee, coordinating Red Hat's charitable activities.
Authored Comments
My favorite line: "This marks the first time in CityCamp history when all elected officials from the local municipality attended a camp."
Kudos to Raleigh's elected officials for recognizing the importance and potential value of a citizen-led event like this.
It is a common misconception that bail is determined by the severity of the crime, when, in fact, it is based on a variety of factors. The primary purpose of bail is to ensure that the accused appears in court. A person who is considered a flight risk, especially a person of means who does not have strong ties to the community (eg dependent family living in the area and a job that requires physical presence) will likely have a higher bail than someone entrenched in the community who is accused of the same (or even more serious) crime. The chart referenced in the article shows average "assumptive bail" which is a recommended starting point for the judge when there are no extenuating circumstances in place.
Bail is not 'punishment' for the crime, since the accused has not been found guilty.