HanaBothWays t1_j2b1iae wrote on December 30, 2022 at 10:55 PM

Reply to comment by IamLars in California deputy killed by driver, suspect dies in shootout by cloud_coder

The 8th Amendment is a dead letter ever since SCOTUS decided that a punishment has to be both cruel and unusual for it to be prohibited under the 8th - although I guess a billion-dollar fine would qualify.

IamLars t1_j2b49ba wrote on December 30, 2022 at 11:14 PM

Bail is addressed in the amendment outside of cruel and unusual punishment.

HanaBothWays t1_j2b86bn wrote on December 30, 2022 at 11:41 PM

Ah okay.

IamLars t1_j2bkxax wrote on December 31, 2022 at 1:13 AM

Also, bail is not a fine. You get the money back if you don't turn into a fugitive.

HanaBothWays t1_j2bmqz2 wrote on December 31, 2022 at 1:27 AM

Well, if you can’t afford it in the first place and are stuck in jail for a crime you didn’t commit or are forced to plead to a more serious crime than what you actually did, simply because you can’t afford the bail, that is really not good.