A common phenomenon around those that have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol is a rush to judgment. This can come in a wide variety of forms. In the media when we see reports of someone who has been involved in an accident they are always sure to include a mention of whether the police officer at the scene had any inkling that the person may have been drinking prior to the accident. This is true even when the person who the police think may have been drinking played no role in causing the crash.

For those who have been arrested it can also feel like the court system has made a rush to judgment and has already made up their minds. This is despite the presumption of innocence and the burden on the prosecution to make their case. Exorbitant bail can make someone who is suspected of drunk driving feel like the judge has already thrown away the key.

In a recent incident in Las Vegas, a first grade teacher has had her bail set at $250,000. While this seems high, it is actually significantly less than the $1 million dollars that the prosecution was seeking. To be sure, this teacher was involved in a serious accident in which a teenage boy was seriously injured. But the purpose of bail is not to punish but instead to simply help ensure that the suspect will appear for further proceedings.

This bail hearing this morning came after the teacher had already been held in the Clark County Detention Center for 72 hours, while the prosecution has not even filed a complaint with formal charges, though they say they will do so later this week.

Source: Las Vegas Sun, "Bail set at $250,000 for teacher arrested in DUI case that critically injured teen," Dave Toplikar, Feb 8. 2012