Option 1: Some of you may have recently heard about the newest laws in Illinois that are referred to as the “No Cash Bond Law” where the Illinois State Supreme Court has decided to go away from requiring a bond to be set for a person to be released from jail. It is not all encompassing for all laws in their State, as some of the more heinous crimes still have a bond, or no bond allowed at all. There are two sides to the controversy surrounding these new laws. One side says that cash bonds punish the impoverished. Their argument is that if a person has enough money, then they do not have to spend as much time in jail, if at all, based solely on the fact that they are more financially able to pay for a bond and legal service. Conversely, the other side says that cash bonds are a deterrent to crime because if you can’t afford to go to jail then you are more likely to not commit a crime. Additionally, there is no incentive not to commit a crime simply because even if a person is caught then they are typically released back into the community the same day. If you choose this topic, review empirical, peer-reviewed research articles that address this problem as it relates to contemporary corrections regarding jails, prisons, and probation/parole. This is a new law for Illinois, but it is not a new concept. Research other states or countries that have tried the same and review their conclusions. You are allowed to use up to 25% of your research to be electronic information such as YouTube and/or news-oriented documentaries so long as it is cited appropriately. Finally, while socio-economic bias has relevancy, do not base your research based solely on demographics or protected classes alone. Think outside the box and consider all possibilities in order to produce a well-written, well thought-out paper. See the syllabus and Article Review Template for details. Papers should be no less than 2 and no more than 5 pages.
