Stop Excessive Bail

Amendment 8 of the Constitution states, "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted". However, this amendment to the Constitution has not been enforced in the United States' courts.

Very recently a college student accused of the rape of a fellow student had bond of $350,000, later increased to $400,000. This bond was more than 6 times the cost of the standard Vanderbilt cost of attendance. Another who was also accused of rape, had bail consisting of $150,000. That is more than 3 times the cost of Stanford tuition. Students already have such difficulty paying for college tuition, it is unrealistic to appoint such high bail and bond to those under trial. This has become a trend, in which those on trial experience high, unrealistic, often unpayable sums of money that are required for them to pay in order to make bail.

In no way is their criminal behavior acceptable, but those on trial do still have rights. These rights include a right to a speedy and public trial, a trial by jury, and reasonable amounts of money required for bail. Rights cannot be taken away, otherwise they are privileges. And if one part of the Constitution is ignored by the Judicial Branch, who's to say that the rest of it won't soon be ignored as well?