Should Persons Accused Of Very Serious Crime Be Allowed Bail?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2421516/Criminals-bail-commit-seven-murders-Suspects-released-courts-responsible-crime-minutes-including-rapes-A-WEEK.html

Which reminded me of this statement that was made on AB recently, so perhaps there is also an argument for the return of capital punishment, if it saves a killer killing again?

/// the number of convicted killers who kill again is already statistically insignificant so again, capital punishment doesn't make any difference ///

I know I am opening up two different arguments here, and we all know that the question of the return of capital punishment has been done to death (pardon the pun) but it is just a further thought.

[ToraToraTora]

Generally, no but I'd prefer not to make it a hard and fast rule.

[anotheoldgit]

ToraToraTora

Care to say in what circumstances would you not?

[ummmm]

It would be best that repeat offenders be kept on remand.

[ToraToraTora]

well the first problem is the term "very serious crime" - it's all a bit subjective, to me burglary is a very serious crime. Anyway I just think that in the vast majority of cases the judiciary do do the right thing and judge the situation as it is rather than a blanket "no bail" set of rules.

[anotheoldgit]

ToraToraTora

Thank you for explaining.

/// well the first problem is the term "very serious crime" - it's all a bit subjective, to me burglary is a very serious crime. ///

I disagree burglary cannot be classed as 'a very serious crime', one can always replace some stolen goods, but one cannot bring back to life some one who has been murdered or mend the harm done to a rape victim, they have to live with that for the rest of their lives.

/// Anyway I just think that in the vast majority of cases the judiciary do do the right thing and judge the situation as it is rather than a blanket "no bail" set of rules. ///

Obviously they do not always get it right, especially in cases outlined in the article.

[Zeuhl]

aog

you are confusing two separate things

It is hardly surprising that 56 murders were committed by people bailed - that just tells us that a small percentage of murderers will already have demonstrated a predisposition for criminal and anti social behaviour

No sh1t Sherlock!

But they weren't bailed for murder

So the issue of capital punishment is irrelevant to this

As correctly stated in your link:

// the number of convicted killers who kill again is already statistically insignificant so again, capital punishment doesn't make any difference //

[FredPuli43]

Bail is not granted to people charged with murder because the presumption of bail does not apply to murder. I did once have a case where bail was granted to someone charged with attempted murder. The magistrate didn't do that again. The man went back and finished the job!