MONROE A man is arrested for a crime, lets say theft. He makes his initial appearance in court and is released on a $1,000 signature bond. He signs his name and walks out of the Green County Justice Center.
It might be frustrating to see the person walking free after hes been charged with a crime.
Its even more frustrating to see the same man appear in the police blotter after committing a second crime, in violation of his signature bond.
People who read the circuit court reports and police blotter probably wonder why signature bonds are so often issued to people who have broken the law. They may wonder who is responsible for allowing people charged with a crime to walk the streets until their trial.
Its not fair to blame the judges, the district attorneys office or the police.
State statutes require signature bonds in most instances.
Only if there is a flight risk, a death or great bodily harm, is a defendant required to pay a cash bond.
A cash bond is used only when there is a concern that the person wont show up for court or may be a threat to either the victim or a witness. Signature bonds are basically a signed promise by the defendant he will appear in court and follow required rules included in the signature bond, Green County Assistant District Attorney Jeff Kohl said in a story written about signature bonds in 2005.
Prosecutors, the police and the public often complain about the fact so many people are released on signature bonds, but there isnt anything they can do unless the Legislature changes the law.
Our hands are tied. The judges hands are tied, Kohl said.
It might be frustrating to see the person walking free after hes been charged with a crime.
Its even more frustrating to see the same man appear in the police blotter after committing a second crime, in violation of his signature bond.
People who read the circuit court reports and police blotter probably wonder why signature bonds are so often issued to people who have broken the law. They may wonder who is responsible for allowing people charged with a crime to walk the streets until their trial.
Its not fair to blame the judges, the district attorneys office or the police.
State statutes require signature bonds in most instances.
Only if there is a flight risk, a death or great bodily harm, is a defendant required to pay a cash bond.
A cash bond is used only when there is a concern that the person wont show up for court or may be a threat to either the victim or a witness. Signature bonds are basically a signed promise by the defendant he will appear in court and follow required rules included in the signature bond, Green County Assistant District Attorney Jeff Kohl said in a story written about signature bonds in 2005.
Prosecutors, the police and the public often complain about the fact so many people are released on signature bonds, but there isnt anything they can do unless the Legislature changes the law.
Our hands are tied. The judges hands are tied, Kohl said.
