BAIL or JAIL?
If you HAD to pick, which would it be?
In the US and in Tennessee, the law strongly favors releasing prisoners on bail before trial.
Tennessee’s Constitution (Article I, Section 15) says that "all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties" (except capital crimes)
The 8th Amendment also protects you against excessive bail while the 6th Amendment guarantees your right to an attorney, even if you can’t afford it.
Tennessee courts have held that although the ability to post bond can be considered when awarding a public defender, it cannot be the sole reason for denial, since many times bail is raised through family, friends, or even loans.
[Identities & dates witheld to protect the defendant, however this case does NOT involve a violent crime]