Should Inmate Be Required to Post Partial Bail for an Abortion?

by SodaHead News Posted 2011/07/06 18:34:59

Related Topics: Bridget Burkholder, Abortion, Oregon, Prison, jail, Inmate, Bail, Pro-life, Pro-choice, Trial, Pregnant, Mother, Medical, Driving, 000

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	Yes	108 votes	53%
	No	96 votes	47%

Bridget Burkholder, a 23-year-old pregnant woman awaiting trial in an Oregon prison, is being required to pay 10 percent of her $65,000 bail if she wants permission to take medical leave to have an abortion.

Life News reports that she is unable to pay the $6,500, and is requesting that the county pay for the procedure.

[Burkholder] is currently in Yamhill County Jail awaiting trial on charges of arson, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after she damaged a motel room in a bid to set herself on fire. The pregnant mother also faces charges of reckless driving and driving under the influence related to another incident.

The prison sheriff does have the authority to allow Burkholder to get the abortion, but has stated that he will leave that decision up to the courts because he does not allow "medical furloughs on pretrial leave."

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David 2011/07/06 20:13:36

Yes

+17
How about this; "abort" her, keep the baby.
>> See Replies

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/07 03:20:22

This is primarily a justice system issue. I just explained myself in another comment to you.
I realize that abortions are legal and I would never try to stop one. I make my views known to my Congressional Critters, but my action ends there.

Yes, I did make a comment or two that would have been best unmade.

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Lanikai to Libby 2011/07/06 21:15:38
Libby to Lanikai 2011/07/06 21:52:00

Now, you would have to understand that health care reform would mean that we would NOT NEED TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON MEDICARE AND MEDICAID ANYMORE! Comprehende? Health care reform means health care reform, so it's time you get your right wing propaganda unscrambled. Ryan's plan would only pay $8,000 a YEAR TO MEDICARE RECIPIENTS when their medications alone would cost more than that. How can a senior receiving Social Security live on Ryan's plan? They can't. Ryan's plan assumes health care reform will be overturned. Okay, now you know, carry on, but be careful, them there death panels my get ya.

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/06 22:24:01

+1
Ryan's plan does not pay any bills. When it becomes a law, then it will pay bills. Right now Obama's plan is paying the bills.

If the govt had not began spending the Social Security and Medicare trust funds in the 1960s, it would not be a problem.

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Libby to Red Branch 2011/07/06 23:18:55

I never implied Ryan's plan paid anything but the $8,000 voucher. I'm not sure exactly what you're talking about when you say bills anyway. Medicare does not pay bills, they are responsible for their own bills, which usually comes out of their Social Security checks. Medicare won't cover all prescription costs either, that's why supplemental insurance is required. Prescrijption costs are sky high, thanks to the pharma lobby.

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/07 02:05:10

+1
You were the one who said something about seniors living on Ryan's plan. That is very close to paying bills.

Why did you change the subject to Social Security and Medicare? We were discussion convicts.

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J to Libby 2011/07/06 21:25:59

+4
There are plenty of WORKING people that would love to have a child. Tell me, who told her that she could have sex and not get pregnant? Oh, that would be the Dems who say no one is responsible for their own behavior.

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Libby to J 2011/07/06 22:00:35

It WAS Planned Parenthood that INFORMED women about birth control, but since Republicans decided to CUT IT, more women WILL NOW GET PREGNANT AND WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN ABORTIONS AND UNNECESSARY PREGNANCIES. Planned Parenthood did a lot more than just abortions. They provide preventative health care and birth control. In short, Planned Parenthood kept abortions to a minimum through their WORK. But don't ask Republican Senator John Kyl from Arizona because he'll have you believing that 93% of their work is only abortions, when in reality it was just 3%.

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/06 22:25:20

Well it looks like they failed here. Now they can correct their failures by giving her an abortion. You talk every state but Oregon. the state of residence.

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Libby to Red Branch 2011/07/06 23:25:51 (edited)

Oregon hasn't passed any outrageous laws like Kansas or Florida or South Dakota, nor have they shut off public funding to Planned Parenthood like Indiana has. If Oregon does implement any extremist right wing laws, you will hear about it.

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/07 02:07:33

+2
At least you caught that much. This problem is in Oregon and after me telling you that about 3 times you finally caught on.
There is no reason for public funding of planned parenthood. That money should be dumped into Medicaid and services received through them. But then we are talking bail money, not medical expenses.

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Libby to Red Branch 2011/07/07 02:54:03

Me? Step off and get some comprehension skills.
Damned right wing extremist.

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/07 03:22:30

I am not an extremist.
I understand that this is an issue in the criminal justice system and can only be solved there.
She, nor her atty, have not even petitioned the judge for a bail waiver for this prcedure. That is step one.

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teigan to Libby 2011/07/07 03:07:48

+2
She doesn't get special privileges just because she is pregnant. Her bail was set for the crime she committed, she has to post bail like everyone else.

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ASTER to JuneBug 2011/07/07 03:57:57

good answer

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Kris Says Hi 2011/07/06 20:41:50

Yes

+6
Unless birth is going to kill her, abortion is not a necessity and she lost her right to one.

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JuneBug to Kris Sa... 2011/07/06 20:53:56

+3
I agree with you, Kris!

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Libby to Kris Sa... 2011/07/06 21:02:09

No, abortions are legal, she has a right to one without interference or other conditions.

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/06 21:11:58

+2
I am not aware that anyone is denying her an abortion. So what are you babbling about.

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Libby to Red Branch 2011/07/06 22:05:39

Obviously something you cannot comprehend. What they're doing is imposing an unfair and illegal restriction that hinders her right to getting a legal abortion.

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/06 22:27:26

+1
This is a criminal matter. She is in jail for a crime and needs money for bail to walk the streets again. Bail is required because she is an escape risk.

What we have here a concurrent set of problems. Abortion does not take precedence over any other issue.

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Libby to Red Branch 2011/07/06 23:31:23

She doesn't want out to walk the streets, she just wants an abortion. They can be done and she can be back jail the same day. I really hope you're never on a jury man.

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/07 02:08:45

I hope it would be a real case and not some sick crap like this.

If you can't do the time, don't do the time,

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teigan to Libby 2011/07/07 03:13:37

If you feel so strongly about it, go post her bail.

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Kris Sa... to Libby 2011/07/06 21:15:40 (edited)

+3
When citizens become criminals, they lose their rights. Also, why is she getting an abortion now? She could have had one before the arson, before the reckless driving, before the alcohol, she could have got one once she found out that she was pregnant. She's using the abortion as an excuse to escape.

-------edit-------

I know she's not convicted yet, but she's a flight risk.

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Libby to Kris Sa... 2011/07/06 22:08:57

It must be nice to be judge and jury with presumed assumptions. Criminals do have rights to health care, what, do you think you live in North Korea?????

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Red Branch to Libby 2011/07/06 22:28:54

+2
Now you are going international with this. Nobody is denying her health care. Kris is not judge and jury. That is where Oregon comes in.

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Kris Sa... to Libby 2011/07/06 22:43:34

If the fetus is killing her then she is entitled to an abortion as it is a necessary medical procedure under that circumstance, but the fetus is not putting her life in jeopardy so it is not a medical necessity.

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Libby to Kris Sa... 2011/07/06 23:55:07

We don't know how far along she is, and as we all know abortions cannot be performed after the fetus is a certain age. If she is approaching that length of time it's in the states best interest to oblige her. If the take that right from her the consequences to the state and the taxpayer could be very costly.

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Kris Sa... to Libby 2011/07/06 22:46:18

I don't think I live in Commie Land, I know live in Texas.

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Libby to Kris Sa... 2011/07/06 23:58:27

Then please familiarize yourself with US laws. She is innocent until proven guilty and she's entitled to, as are those convicted, health care.

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Kris Sa... to Libby 2011/07/07 00:44:45

Health Care. If she needs care. The fetus apparently is not a medical issue so there is no medical need for an abortion, therefore the State can deny her abortion.

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Libby to Kris Sa... 2011/07/07 02:57:00

The point is she has a right to an abortion. It's her choice, obviously.

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Kris Sa... to Libby 2011/07/07 03:00:24

If she wants an abortion then she should post bail, she should better hurry because she will lose that right soon.

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teigan to Libby 2011/07/07 03:16:11

You're right, she's entitled to medically nessassary medical care. But abortion is elective like cosmedic surgery. It's not an entitlement.

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Libby to teigan 2011/07/07 06:36:53

Just because she's in jail she can't get an abortion? That's crazy. The only right she's surrendered is her freeedom, and until she's convicted she will enjoy the same rights as everyone else. If she wanted to have breast augmentation or a tummy tuck I could understand that, but being accused of a crime should not have a bearing on her right to have an abortion.

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Lanikai to Libby 2011/07/06 21:24:47

+2
Okay-she has NO right to have taxpayers fund her bail or pay for her abortion. If she was free in and out in the community she could access one with no problem. Once you are jailed until trial you lose your rights to the freedoms that those of us wandering freely enjoy.

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Libby to Lanikai 2011/07/06 22:13:22

No, once you're accused of committing a crime YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY! Also, no one, not even a CONVICTED FELON loses their right to have health care.

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Lanikai to Libby 2011/07/06 22:22:20

+2
She is incarcerated because she is a danger to herself or others in the community. She is a danger, do you grasp that?

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Libby to Lanikai 2011/07/07 00:02:39

No, she's in jail because she's been accused of a criminal act, and her bond was set like they always are. You wrongly assume she's a threat to the community, when in fact you have nothing to base your accusation that she's a threat to the community on. If she was that much of a threat her bond would be much higher. Can you grasp that?

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