DOING THE BARE MINIMUM: WHY A PREFERENCE SHOULD BE EXPRESSED FOR PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE RELEASE.
Author: Charles White
Rena Lee’s case started and ended with a bond. “[Lee] was adjudicated indigent and counsel was appointed for her preliminary hearing in the City Court of McComb, bond being set at $50,000. On April 18, 1979, the preliminary hearing was held, Lee was bound over to the October Term of the Pike County Circuit Court, and bond was reduced to $10,000. [Lee] then filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus seeking release on her own recognizance. After a short hearing, the county judge refused to order her release on her own recognizance, but reduced her bail to $2,500, which [Lee] was still unable to post. From that order, Rena Lee appealed.”