I just don’t understand drinking and driving

His study also found that lower socio-economic status also tends to correlate positively with the chances that someone will drive while under the influence.

the second (older) link addresses the arrests

In the past several decades, law enforcement regarding DUI has increased, as have the penalties in many cases. That increase in enforcement can affect demographic statistics, including socioeconomic status of those actually arrested and convicted.

most of those arrested are guilty as charged, particularly in the case of DUI, which is why they are only too happy to accept a plea which offers them a less harsh penalty and/or less severe charges.

Over here you're either granted bail or held on remand based on flight risk, liklihood of witness intimidation and the seriousness of the crime. Money rarely comes into it.

the U.S. justice/prison system has become an industry

Quote:

Over here you're either granted bail or held on remand based on flight risk, liklihood of witness intimidation and the seriousness of the crime. Money rarely comes into it.

The same is true here. But it might also include whether you might be a threat to the community if released on bail.

Money will only come into it if it increases the possibly you might be a flight risk, or, if you are so wealthy you could definitely afford to forfeit a lower bail and flee. So Bernie Madoff's $10 million bail (I think that was the amount), also took into account his resources, as well as the other factors.

Given that 90 percents plus are not found guilty of DUI by a jury we only know that most are pressure to take a plead deal.

Quote:

if you were unjustly accused of a crime you did not commit, would you cop a plea to avoid a trial? Honestly?

So you would sit in jail for a year or more just waiting for a trial when in many cases you could walk free by pleading guilt to some lessor crime innocent or not?

There has been a response to the argument that poor defendants cannot get out of jail on bail because they cannot afford it. In the state of New Jersey, like many states throughout the country, a defendant can secure a bail bond by agreeing to pay the fee, which is normally ten percent of the bond amount over time. Throughout the industry this is commonly referred to as a payment plan. In theory, this may seem like a good idea; however, if a defendant fails to make a payment, the bail bond company does not have the right to revoke the bail that was set by a judge. This allows a defendant to be released on bail without ever paying the premium owed to the bail bond company.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bail

Obituary for Barry Lancaster

Barry L. Lancaster, 47, of St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly of Bradley, died Dec. 23, 2011, in St. Petersburg. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, until the 1 p.m. funeral services at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. Pastor Karl Koeppen will officiate.

Burial will be in Mound Grove Gardens of Memory, Kankakee. Memorials may be made to the family wishes.

Mr. Lancaster was a truck driver for many years. He was born Dec. 22, 1964, in Kankakee, the son of Donald and Jacqueline Larkins Lancaster. He was an avid bowler. He enjoyed all sports, especially the Chicago teams. He loved the outdoors, fishing, loud music and being around friends and family.

Surviving are one son, Anthony "AJ" Lancaster, of Kankakee; two daughters, Ashli Lancaster and Amanda Lancaster, both of Kankakee; one granddaughter, Abby; his mother, of Tilton; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Karen and Keith Hoskins, of Tilton, and Vanessa and Ken Sackett, of Lake Placid, Fla.; one brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Denise Lancaster, of Bradley; and many nieces and nephews.

His father died Dec. 28, 2011.
http://www.clancygernon.com/obituaries/Barry-Lancaster/#/Obituary

How many Homo's are on this site? lmao.