I’ve been doing bail pretty
much full time for about eight years now, and so I’ve decided it’s time for a bit
of a break. But having Pope Francis come to America last week made me realize
that I couldn’t take that break without one last post to talk about the Golden
Rule and bail.
Yesterday I wrote five pages
on the Golden Rule and bail, and then I realized that the more I harped on
people for not following the Golden Rule, the more I wasn’t following it myself.
So let’s leave it at this. If you just follow the Golden Rule at bail, nearly
everything else will eventually fix itself. If you don't understand the Golden Rule, or can't seem to follow it even when it's pointed out to you, then you need to get out of criminal justice.
I’ll point out one specific thing,
however, that someone should be able to stop immediately. One of the bail
insurance companies – you know who you are – makes fun of how particular defendants
look in their mugshots every week. I don’t think you’d like anybody making fun
of how you look, so cut it out. I mean, beyond the fact that it’s just plain mean,
these people are your potential clients, right?
Okay, that’s the end of the
sermons. A lot of really great people have made their careers working in the important field of pretrial release and detention, but I was never meant to stay all that long. Don't make me mad, though, or I'm liable to come back. :)
