How much for the fee??? $50,000!

I almost skipped Cyndi Wyss' op-ed piece about the Carrick disappearance (murder) in this morning's Northwest Herald. If I didn't receive the print edition, I probably would have missed it. I'm glad I still get the paper at my door and read it. Why?

Mario Casciaro's release on $5,000,000 bail has been the front-page news. He got out by finally being able to post $500,000 bond.

Here's what got my attention: "That's 500K, $50,000 of which immediately is forfeit as part of a clerk's fee."

Is this (legalized) robbery right inside the courthouse? The McHenry County Circuit Court Clerk's Office scarfed up a $50,000 payday, when the $500K came in. Is this fair? To anyone?

Doesn't this put the judges in an awkward position of becoming fundraisers for the Court?

As far as the defendant is concerned, that $50,000 is gone! It was paid to the Court. It was PAID, not deposited to guarantee Casciaro's appearance at future court dates.

As bails (and corresponding bonds (and, therefore, corresponding "fees")) increase, shouldn't this fee to the Circuit Clerk's office be on a sliding scale?

If Casciaro is found Not Guilty, the bond will be returned - minus that $50,000!

If he is found guilty of any charge and assessed monetary fines, court costs and additional fees (on top of jail/prison time), those dollar costs are collected out of the $450,000, before any balance is returned to the person(s) who put up the bond.