Inmates Wrongfully Released on SOR in Palm Beach County

Should These Palm Beach County Inmates Have Been Released on Supervised Own Recognizance?

Bail Reform has been a hot topic throughout the United States. However, in the regions that have completely eliminated commercial bondsmen, such as Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Oregon and Baltimore, Maryland.  These areas are relying mostly on pre-trial risk assessment software to decide whether or not an arrestee should be eligible for bail.

In Palm Beach County, the judicial system uses a bond schedule which assigns a bail amount based on the type of crime committed. Magistrate judges use judicial discretion in setting and adjusting bail amounts.  Judges also have the ability to release inmates on Own Recognizance (OR) and / or Supervised Own Recognizance (SOR).

WHAT IS SOR?

Below are Palm Beach County inmates who were released on SOR who should not have been based on SOR requirements in Palm Beach County.

		Xavier T. Burgess was arrested and released on SOR for Battery – Commit Domestic Battery By Strangulation and Aggravated Battery – Offender Knew/Should Have Known Victim Pregnant on 1/30/2019. SOR is not intended for violent crimes or inmates.
		Malcolm Young was arrested and released on SOR for Battery – Touch or Strike and LARC – Petit Theft 2nd Degree 1st Offense  on 1/15/2019. SOR is not intended for violent crimes or inmates.
		Nicolas Celis was arrested and released on SOR for Domestic Battery by Strangulation and Battery – Cause Bodily Harm on 1/7/2019. SOR is not intended for violent crimes or inmates.
		Fred Harris Jr. was arrested and released on SOR for Weapon Offense – Missile into Dwelling Veh Building or Aircraft and Damage Prop-Crim Misch – 1000 Dols or More on 1/4/2019. Just last November, Harris was arrested and pled guilty for (Domestic) Battery. SOR is not intended for violent crimes or inmates with a violent criminal history.
		Anthony O. Stallings was arrested and  released on SOR for ‘Battery’ on 12/31/2018. SOR is not intended for violent crimes. Also, Stallings was arrested and plead guilty earlier this year for a felony charge for ‘Burglary to a Vehicle’ and also for a misdemeanor charge for ‘Loitering or Prowling’.
		Ramon Luis Santiagoortiz was arrested and released on SOR on 12/10/2018 for Intent Threat to Do Violence / Fail to Leave Property Upon Order and released on SOR. This man is a repeat felon who has been found guilty on many previous charges, including vehicle grand theft, attempted burglary and retail theft. The Palm Beach County Court System deemed him acceptable in an SOR program with little or no assurance that he will at his next court hearing.
		Alexander LaPorte was arrested and released on SOR on 12/6/2018 for Battery / Domestic Battery by Strangulation and the Palm Beach County Court System deemed him acceptable in an SOR program with little or no assurance that he will appear at his next court hearing. SORs are not intended to be used for violent criminal charges.

You can publicly view case information and documents about the defendants listed above at Palm Beach County Public Records Search

RELATED: The Power of Combining Bail Bonds with Supervised Release