...I was just wondering

I think house arrest should be the standard for all non violent crimes. Why should the taxpayers house, feed, entertain and pay other expenses for Mr. Madoff? Let him be forced to stay in his home and cover his own expenses.

You hadn't heard it's one law for the rich and powerful and another for everyone else? all the best urban

That's politics for you!

First he didn't steal from the "American People". He stole from people stupid enough to invest in his Ponzi Scheme. Ponzi schemes have been around for years, they are fairly well understood by most semi-literate investors. Nothing is free. Extreme returns on investment that are consistently ahead of the market are always houses of cards. It has been proven time and again. While I feel sorry for any of the "average joes and janes" who were caught in Madoff's schemes, most of his investors were not average, they were already extremely wealthy and simply wanted more wealth. I don't feel particularly sorry for the extremely greedy. As to Madoff himself? Well first our legal system has a couple of standards. 1. Innocent until proven guilty. 2. The right to reasonable bail. In the case of Madoff house arrest is reasonable due to the nature of his presumed crime and his extreme wealth. He has the ability to flee jurisdiction, thus the added oversight. While we all presume his guilt, the "State" must still prove their case against him.

Actually, Mr. Madoff received stricter treatment than someone charged with stealing $100 from someone else. If that person had no previous criminal record, he most likely would have been released with no bond and would be free to walk the streets until trial. Because Mr. Madoff is considered to be a flight risk due to his wealth, it's his wealth that has subjected him to house arrest. He's not free to walk the streets like your average thief.

This is the difference between white collar crime, and blue collar crime. You can steal $100.00 and go to jail that night, but if you embazzel $100 Million, you may never see a jail cell. Our laws are made by people who have money, for people who have money, and they all play the CYA game. The law should be the law no matter how much money you have. But, untill we take the power to make laws from the people that only looking out for the rich, we will never see this happen.

Hello Cryssystar, No doubt, Mr. Madoff will get what's coming to him -- sooner or later. And yes, that is a Karmic inference. However, unless and until we are willing to 'round-file' the United States Constitution, then Mr. Madoff is just as entitled to bail eligibity as any other accused. A great many espouse contempt at a two-tiered legal system -- one for the rich and another for the common Jo's and Joe's. Yet, denying Mr. Madoff the bail option is just as heinous as offering the rich and famous a 'get out of jail free' card. In my humble opinion: One system, for all is what is called for now, and always!

I was about to post that I agreed with you completely and I've been saying pretty much the same as you wrote for days now; then I read my friend Spalladino's post and it makes perfect sense! Madoff is receiving "worse" treatment for someone awaiting trial and out on bail than a petty thief would because he is a flight risk. Some poor schmuck who stole $100 probably wouldn't have enough money to leave town let alone the country as Madoff could in a heartbeat. Annie

damn do any of you know law, you are innocent till proven guilty, you have the right to post bail, in his case he posted bail, but the judge made sure he didt leave the country by puting him on house arrest. everyone has the right for bail, and you only have to pay like 10% of the bail, i think it may be 5% in california.