No Cash Bond

One of the saddest things I’ve seen repeatedly over my career as a former prosecutor as well as a defense attorney is: defendants pleading guilty not because they are in fact guilty but rather to get out of jail.  This occurs when they are arrested for a crime, unable to make bond, and few weeks pass before the next court date – by then, the state offers a time-served plea on minor offenses.  Accordingly, defendants plea just to get out of jail, and racking up cycles of convictions, rather than allowing their attorney a chance to fight and defend them on the merits.