typical bail amount for murder suspects

[Craptacular]

There was a weird sequence of events in Milwaukee today:

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=5/30/2006&id=6570

In short, an off-duty Milwaukee cop killed a man last year after he claimed was struck by the man's vehicle, who then got out and reached into his coat. The shooting was ruled as justified by an inquest jury, but the DA kept investigating. This morning, the DA filed FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE and perjury charges against the cop, who turned himself in. He appeared in court, posted $25,000 bail, went home, and committed suicide.

Regardless of the rest of the story, how the hell does someone charged with FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE get $25,000 bail?!?!?!?! Doesn't this seem ridiculously low? Hell, the Duke lacrosse players got $400,000 bail for rape, and many murder suspects are held without bail. I know bail is influenced by things like flight risk, likelihood to commit other crimes, etc, but what's going on here?

[Joe]

rules are different for cops

[Craptacular]

rules are different for cops

I won't dispute that, but $25,000 still seems ridiculously low.

[saldana]

is it possible that his bail was set at 250,000$, and he was allowed to post 10%...i think that is more likely than his actual bail only being 25K

[John Galt]

is it possible that his bail was set at 250,000$, and he was allowed to post 10%...i think that is more likely than his actual bail only being 25K

I think that is likely, but it is definitely on the low side. Even if the judge decided he wasn't a flight risk (which is one ground for high bail or withholding bail), the alleged crime should warrant some finding of dangerousness (although I'm guessing this is his first offense). Clearly, the fact that he is a cop mattered to the judge.

[stevew]

First degree intentional homicide....isn't that a capital crime?

He should have been remanded(remandered?)

Either way, thanks for taking one for the team, guy, you saved a lot of people a lot of money.

[Franklinnoble]

Either way, thanks for taking one for the team, guy, you saved a lot of people a lot of money.

Assuming he was guilty.

[Axxon]

Assuming he was guilty.

Actually, I know where you're coming from though I don't know if you unilaterally hold this view. I know I do but that isn't the point of my post.

The post you're replying to requires no such assumption. He indeed save a lot of people a lot of money. Since the team is the people he did take one for them and it only becomes more poignant if he indeed was innocent.

Just thought I'd bring that up.

[Franklinnoble]

Actually, I know where you're coming from though I don't know if you unilaterally hold this view. I know I do but that isn't the point of my post.

The post you're replying to requires no such assumption. He indeed save a lot of people a lot of money. Since the team is the people he did take one for them and it only becomes more poignant if he indeed was innocent.

Just thought I'd bring that up.

Yeah, I get your point. Although the suicide could be interpreted two ways:

1. He was guilty, and did't want to face the music.
2. He wasn't guilty, but the circumstances were bad enough that his reputation was shot, he got depressed, and offed himself.

If it's option 1, then I'm glad he saved everyone the trouble. If it's option 2, it's tragic, and it's a shame the guy didn't get help.

But, if you're looking at it strictly from a resource savings (because we'd have a lengthy and costly trial and incarceration either way), then, yeah, he took one for the team.

[stevew]

Maximum prison time for first degree intentional homicide is life in prison. Not sure what the difference between it, manslaughter, and murder is. The evidence in the case seemed very suspicious.