'Montgomery Is Under Siege’ District Attorney Says Of Crime
Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey says the capital city “is under siege” after spending his entire weekend dealing with the city’s violent crime.
Bailey said the city’s crime is an issue that needs to be addressed, stating, “We’ve got to start sending messages that this behavior is not tolerated.”
Bailey hopes the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling raising bail amounts for those charged with murder will help keep them behind bars.
The high court’s order raises the maximum bail amount for murder charges in the state. Previously, a murder suspect’s bail could be set at $150,000. Now it can go up to $1.5 million.
According to Bailey, his office has seen suspects get arrested for murder, bail out of jail, and then go on to commit further crimes, including additional murders.
“We have had two murders committed by people already out on bond for murder in the recent past,” Bailey added.
So, what is bail? According to the DA’s office, bail allows a suspect awaiting trial to get out of jail in exchange for a promise (usually money) to ensure they appear in court.
The purpose of bail, Bailey said, is for public safety.
“What people don’t understand is right now, as it stands in the state of Alabama, the only way that they can have no bail when they are arrested is if it’s a capital charge,” Bailey said. “I know people don’t really understand the difference between capital murder and murder but just the difference I can share with you right now is capital murder is when someone kills someone in the course of committing another dangerous felony.”
For instance, Bailey said, if the murder happens during a robbery.
Bailey also spoke about his vision of doing away with cash bonds, an option he said is bad for public safety.
“You know, if you and I go and commit a crime together...you’re rich, I’m not...we commit the same crime, you get out because you’re rich, I stay in because I’m not rich, I’m poor. That’s not public safety,” Bailey said.
Bailey said he would like to see the county transform into a system similar to the federal system.
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