The Long History of Bail
Bail is pretty well known of in today’s world. Most people grasp the concept of bail and how it works. It might come as a surprise to some people to learn that bail did not always work the way it does today.
The earliest evidence of bail can be traced back to Medieval England, around the 13th century. Back then, not every town had judge, which meant it could take months for a single criminal could be tried. This lead to overcrowding of jail cells. Local sheriffs soon learned that they could release criminals, and ensure their return for court, by threatening torture for no shows. This is very different than how things are handled nowadays.
Eventually, the system shifted to people paying to get out of jail with the promise of their money being returned...
