alt Hacker NewsRereading the article, another insane detail is the judge setting bond at $2M. I think for any person who actually was motivated to perpetrate a mass shooting, no bond would prevent it. And for most innocent people, $2M might as well be $200M. They’re sitting in jail until trial.
I think there’s an amendment about that or something but I’m not a lawyer.
I believe there are standing precedents about cash bail that state that it should not be used unless there’s a demonstrable risk the defendant will flee otherwise. The problem (one of them anyway) is that as a component of the process, it’s highly unlikely to be challenged to such an extent it makes it to the circuit courts where such precedents are made. Bonds should not be used, in and of themselves, as punishments, or as leverage for prosecution. If a person is a danger to themselves or others, they should be denied bail. If they are a clear flight risk, then the bond should be set accordingly to ensure compliance. If they are neither, they should be released on their own recognizance and afforded the right to fully participate in their own defense.
Edit: also not a lawyer