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Arresting the wrong guy would happen pretty often and shouldn't be a serious issue.

Convicting the wrong guy, especially if you know they're the wrong guy even as 'due process' finds them guilty - now that's another issue entirely.

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Thing is, it arrest actually IS a problem. It's often said that any decent prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich. Throw in a dash of racism or classism, and you've got a recipe for sending lots of people to jail who didn't commit the crime. Every step of the way needs to responsible and honest in order to mitigate this problem as much as possible. Can't just let cops do whatever they please under the premise that the prosecutor's office will figure out the truth.

The mere arrest can totally disrupt your life. Lost job if you miss work. Loss of trust with friends and family. Lost money if you can afford bail. Confusion in your kids if you suddenly have to get someone to pick them up from school that day, and arrange for care. Record of arrest.

Bail is the opposite. If you can afford it you get the money back if you show up to your court date. If you can't you go to a Bail bondsman and pay 10% up front - but you don't get it back at all.

Thanks for the correction. I did mean being able to afford a bail bondsman, which many people can't and so sit in jail needlessly.

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