In 2018, big companies like Google and Facebook decided to weigh in on a topic that has had some political pull for years. It’s not exactly news to see big tech companies revealing political leanings through the implementation of certain policies. They’ve been outspoken before. Criminal justice reform has been a profound topic of conversation among policymakers for many years. It’s a cause heralded by many on the political left and the libertarian right and one that has a lot of merit and complexities imbued. It’s not a black or white issue, yet it seems the stigmatization of the bail bond industry has been targeted to carry a lot of the weight for a much bigger problem.
Many would argue that the cause of criminal justice reform carries an undeniable racial element that must be addressed. Last year, President Trump himself signed a bipartisan-supported bill on the matter—many aspects of which were controversial— giving judges more discretion on sentencing and encouraging changes to improve the recidivism rate.
However, in their efforts to have some impact on this the tech giants decided to target private companies and curb advertisements on bail bondsman. NBC reported in May of 2018, that the companies decided to block advertisements from bails bondsman on the grounds that it violated their attempt to keep “damaging and hurtful” content off users sites.
For many years, people have misunderstood and often vilified the concept of the industry. When a person is arrested, a judge has the discretion to set bail so that person can be released from jail with a promise that he/she will return to their set court date. Getting released from jail as people await their constitutionally guaranteed trial is important for families to be reunited, for the accused to hire and talk to an attorney freely, to continue working or providing for their loved ones, etc.
Reaction to the Decision
Many in the media commented on the recent decision by Google and Facebook that has much broader implications about the power of these tech companies to impose political leanings via policies and decisions. The decision appears to some as nothing more than moral posturing and an attempt to pose as arbiters of justice in a private market. The issue begs the question about how an advertisement for bail is “damaging and hurtful” content to begin with but also how these companies seem now to have control over what is considered harmful to the average person. In other words, much of the market now depends on Facebook’s definition of “harmful” which can extend into some dicey territory.
Several groups have led a charge against the industry of bail bondsman and called it bail bond reform. Preventing these ads on social media and obfuscating the fact that there is access to funds that can help families post bond does not in itself create any solutions for the people they purport to be helping. It is not legislative reform. Jeff Clayton, executive director of the American Bail Coalition, dismissed the amount and claimed the companies were trying make the bail reform appear bigger than it really was.
Criminal justice reform has supporters on both sides of the isle and has for some time now worked to dismantle certain aspects of our criminal justice system.
Recent Discoveries
According to a recent impromptu experiment in the state of Maryland, showed that the elimination of bail actually increased the number of defendants held without bail from 10% to 14%. At the same time, fewer released defendants are showing up for trial. A ‘no show’ in court can face bigger penalties and consequences down the line. The concept of 24-hour bail bonds is contingent upon the judge’s discretion to set a bail amount so an accused person has the opportunity to get fast and reliable bail bond services.
Get Freedom with Freedom Bonds
Despite this controversy, Freedom Bail Bonds is here to help you deal with your arrest and better prepare for your court date. You have a right to a fair trial and a right to keep your life together until that date comes. If you have been recently arrested or have a loved one that has been arrested, posting bail is the fastest way to get out and keep your life in order while you wait for court.