Once you've been arrested for a crime, this is where bonds are set with a magistrate judge. In Mecklenburg county there is a recommended policty of how much to set for a crime. But there is a problem. Marcus Philemon, Court Watch, "if it's right there in front of your magistrates why are they not using it?" Court Watch founder and leading courtroom citizen advocate Marcus Philemon says in too many cases, magistrate judges are not following the bail bond policy.
First example is the case of Martin diamond, accused of rape. His bond was set at 25,000 when the recommended amount was a minimum of 50,000. There's the case of Michael Partlow among his crimes resisting an officer. His bond was 25 dollars, when the recommended amount is 100 to 2500 dollars. There's also the case of Brett Bowers charged with robbery whose bond was set for 5000 recommended amount, 10,000 to 100,000 dollars.
For courtroom advocates this trend is alarming. "If you set the bond low and they bond out and they go out and re-offend-then that's a failure to me," says Philemon.
Las Vegas Bail Bonds Journal covers the news & events affecting Las Vegas bail bonds professionals.
