Who Pays for Crime?
Taxpayers do, victims do, homeowners do, you and I do. Pretrial Release Programs or “Own Recognizance” releases are funded by property taxes paid each year by property owners. These programs allow people who have been arrested or charged with a criminal offense to get out of jail at taxpayer expense.
Once released from jail at taxpayer expense, they are eligible for a public defender, at taxpayer expense.
Oklahoma Statute defines exactly what offenses do not qualify for and who cannot be released on OR by programs, but quite often, this law is over ruled by Judges who choose to allow the person to be released.
County commissioners claim that the pre trial release programs save taxpayer dollars by alleviating jail over crowding and incarceration costs. Even though most of these detainees can pay for a bondsman and an attorney, they prefer to let society pay their way through the system with Judicial Welfare.
If you are a taxpayer and you disagree with your tax dollars being used for Judicial Welfare make some calls, send some emails, voice your opinion by voting. Come back soon, we will be updating regularly.
