Bail Bond For a Hate Crime
The New York City criminal justice system can be confusing for those who have been arrested or charged with a crime. A skilled lawyer can help to clarify the legal process as it relates to your case and answer any questions you may have. One question that often arises is, can you get a bail bond for a hate crime?
Bail is a process that allows an accused person to be released from jail until their court date. The amount of the bond is set by the judge at a bail hearing which is usually the first appearance after an arrest. During this hearing, the judge will take several factors into consideration, including the type of crime, whether it is violent or nonviolent and the history and character of the defendant. The judge will also consider whether the defendant is a flight risk and if they are a danger to society if they are released while awaiting trial.
After the attack on a Jewish deli and anti-Semitic incidents at other locations, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced his office would focus more attention and resources on hate crimes. This includes establishing a full-time Hate Crime Unit and increasing staff for the unit to include prosecutors and investigators. In addition, the DA is expanding his office’s use of reviews for bail bonds reform, which will allow judges to release more suspects from jail while awaiting their case.
Can You Get a Bail Bond For a Hate Crime?
Advocates of the reform argue that allowing more people out on bail increases safety and reduces overcrowding in jails. However, opponents point to publicized cases of dangerous suspects being released – a serial bank robber, a man accused of murder, an alleged hit-and-run drunk driver – to say that doing away with bail only makes the community less safe.
Studies have shown that the vast majority of people who are arrested return to their court dates despite being out on bail. Regardless of the study results, courts continue to set high cash bonds in cases such as sex-related crimes and violent felonies. This means that the defendant or their loved ones must come up with a lot of money to pay to be free from jail while waiting for their case to be resolved.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer can fight to lower the bail amount or ask the judge to release the accused on their own recognizance or on an unsecured bond. In this way, the defendant will only be required to promise that they will appear in court and not have to come up with the large sum of money on their own or risk losing it.
Those who are arrested on suspicion of hate crimes or bias intimidation can face serious charges that could affect their career, personal relationships and reputation. They need a skilled New Jersey bias intimidation attorney in their corner. This will ensure that their rights are protected and that the best possible outcome is achieved for their case. If you have been arrested or charged with a hate crime, it is important to hire a criminal lawyer as soon as possible.