IN a three-part series, the Raleigh News & Observer has captured the problems of the current use of bail in North Carolina courts. The piece published today details the high costs of pretrial incarceration for low-level offenders, to both defendants and society in general.  It's an issue I have addressed in prior posts, and I'm glad to see it get some comprehensive coverage that will hopefully lead to changes in how (and whether) bail is imposed, and the availability of counsel at first appearances. 

I highly recommend that anyone interested in these issues take the time to read the articles:

How the system works. 

How the system could be changed. 

One woman's story.