Kansas magistrate’s experience with bail bonds shows it’s time to get smart, not tough, on crime

Kansas magistrate’s experience with bail bonds shows it’s time to get smart, not tough, on crime

Ron Sylvester, a retired magistrate judge, says bail bonds are unnecessary in most nonviolent cases. Text messages have proven sufficient to get people to return to court. (Getty Images)Magistrate Judge Ron Sylvester’s story about the need to eliminate cash bonds in nonviolent cases begins with two QuikTrip hot dogs, one actual dog, and a man with mental health and addiction issues struggling to survive. Setting bonds, said Sylvester, who retire…