Bail bonds as a way of jail release are working. What do we mean by that? We mean that by releasing a defendant from jail, with payment, we are giving the defendant some of his or her life back. They can go to work, hang with friends and family, live comfortably as possible at home. They need to show up for court and make bail bond payments, which can come from themselves or friends or family on their behalf. The defendants are well aware of the risks and consequences they face if they disobey these bail conditions. Because of that, they are more likely to obey those terms, less likely to go against them and cause more trouble.

By getting arrested, the defendant has experienced first hand everything they can lose in a heartbeat. They’ve gone to jail...

It’s not very surprising, but instead disappointing, that there are people in prison who have been wrongly convicted of a crime. The person could be in prison because investigators were lazy, the jury was lazy or racist or sexist, the technology to test DNA and evidence was not as precise and accurate as it is today, or a victim or witness lied.

Every so often, a wrongly convicted individual is finally released early, after having his or her name cleared. Lake County’s 71-year-old Luther Jones is one of these men.

Jones spent 18 years in prison for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old girl. The girl’s mother made her lie and say Jones was the man responsible...