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Show Circuit court bail Letter to the Editor: What is happening to our Circuit Court? Why are people accused of crimes, taken before our Circuit Court judge" and then released on reduced bail, or perhaps released on no bail at all? This allows them back into society to commit additional crimes and or to flee from this jurisdiction. When they flee, it costs us more tax dollars in an attempt to bring the accused back before this same Circuit Court judge, who made their release so easy in the first place. I don't believe any of us would want to see bail money used as a penalty. However, the increasing number of "Failure to Appear" warrants being issued by our Circuit Court should certinaly be a barometer to all of us that the" current bail system used by Judge Whitney D. Hammond is in' desparate need of close scrutiny. Why isn't Judge Hammond sticking more closely to the uniform bail schedule prepared by the Utah Judicial Council? When I see the judge frequently lower these suggested bails, it makes me wonder why? It also makes me wonder why he seldom raises the suggested bail, without the request of a Peace officer. Does Judge Hammond lack faith in our Judicial system, that it will be able to protect the innocent, so therefore he must? Or prehaps we in this county haven't made it plain enough to the judge that we expect him to protect us from the criminal element. Perhaps we should contact the Honorable Judge Hammond at his office, 7th Circuit Court, County Cdurthouse, Vernal, Utah, 789-2882, and - let him know how we really feel. Sincerely, IARRY L. CROWL |