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Excessive bail?

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The 8th amendment to the US Constitution forbids excessive bail. How is 'excessive' determined?

I was arrested a while back charged with a class "D" misdemeanor in the State of Maine. There was no violence involved or threatened. No previous arrests. I'd lived in the community for the past 27 years, had family and friends locally. Owned a house, a commercial building and a business.

My bail was set at $100,000 single surety or $10,000 cash. I'll point out here too that the affidavit requesting a warrant was delivered to the court on a Tuesday, but the warrant wasn't issued until Friday.

I was arrested at 5:15pm on Friday after the banks had closed making access to $10,000 impossible till the following morning.

This all just seems like an abuse of the legal system to me.

Rant finished, thanks

charlie
 



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