Bail Bonds: A Look Back

America places a lot of importance on not wrongfully convicting people. That’s why the bail process is so important; you’re not supposed to be punished for a crime until you’re convicted. Did you know the history of bail dates back to the 13th century? Here’s a look back at the history of bail bonds:

prison cells

England:

The beginning of bail bonds took place in 13th century England. Then, local sheriffs were able to use their discretion when jailing people, a power they were prone to abusing. The Statute of Westminster was implemented to discourage this abuse; it made certain crimes available for a bail out. The bail process remained basically the same for hundreds of years after this.

America:

The Bail Reform Act of 1966 is widely considered the most important advancement in bail rights; it allowed people to get out of jail “on their own recognizance” as long as they weren’t charged with a capital offense. The only time bail rights could be restricted is if the accused was considered a major flight risk.

The Bail Reform Act of 1984 served to restrict  bail rights in cases where the accused was considered to be a threat to community. This applies to both violent and drug crimes.

If you should find yourself in need of a bail bond, ATX Bail Bonds can help. For more information, just give us a call at (512) 834-2245.

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