IMHO, if the bail is too high for the accused to be able to possibly pay, it is excessive. The wealth (or lack thereof) of the accused should be a consideration in setting the bail.
I'm fairly liberal, but I don't think we should bail out a hypothetical murderer that happens to be homeless for $0, simply because that's what they can afford.
I do feel like we need a low-cost solution to monitored release. Something like an ankle monitor that isn't ridiculously overpriced, or just an app on the defendant's phone for misdemeanors. Maybe someday you can have the defendant swallow an AirTag that adheres itself to the stomach for a few months, and perhaps monitors pre-trial conditions such as discontinuing alcohol or drug use.
Totally agree. By the same logic, we shouldn't release a billionaire murderer just because they can afford it. Being rich doesn't always correlate with risk.
