The Sun recently reported that bail was set at $500,000 for a young man who turned himself in for vandalism ("All six officers charged in Freddie Gray's death released on bail," May 2).
Such an amount — higher even than the bail set for the officers accused of contributing to the death of Freddie Gray — is extraordinary and, of course, assures that the young man who turned himself in, even though he showed both honesty and remorse, will remain in prison awaiting trial.
The judge apparently has learned nothing from the recent revelations of blatant racism and the criminal justice system's abuse of African-American men. He just contributed to the sad history of disproportionate punishment for black males, especially young men and boys.
It is not too late for the judge to reconsider his actions and reset the bail at a more reasonable — and affordable — rate. I sincerely hope he will do so.
Suzanne H. O'Hatnick, Baltimore