NATCHEZ — Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said how some cases are treated in court is causing the community to lose faith in the justice system.

Patten said it is not his place to tell a judge what he or she should do in their court and how to set their bonds, but in some instances the system is causing the victims to feel left behind.

“We do need to revamp things throughout the whole system to where the victims do not consistently feel like victims,” Patten said. “One by the criminals, two by law enforcement and three by the court system.”

Patten said he understands bonds are not punishment, but in some instances convicted felons facing serious charges are being released a couple days after they are arrested.

“I have faith in the criminal justice system,” Patten said. “I have faith in all of our judges and all of our attorneys. But I will say something needs to be adjusted so we can be more effective against the criminal element.”

Over this past week, a suspected arsonist had his bond lowered from $100,000 to $20,000 and another man went from no bond being set to $27,500. Both were released after the bonds were lowered.

D’Andre Ramone Thomas, 24, 96 E. Oak St., was charged last week with arson connected with a fire at 96 Oak St. that spread to a neighboring residence.

His bond was originally set last week at $100,000 by Judge Hyde Carby. Carby lowered it to $20,000 and Thomas has since been released, Patten said.

Carby could not be reached for comment.

Judge Patricia Dunmore said Friday judges have different styles and bonds are to be reasonable, not a punishment.

“Some judges feel like when someone (is charged with) a crime, they should sit in jail and not get a bond,” Dunmore said. “They sit in jail until trial. That is not reasonable. You are innocent until you are proven guilty in our system.”

Dunmore said the attorney of a defendant will typically request that a bond be reduced for hardship and will give reasons.

“Sometimes I will reduce it, sometimes I don’t,” she said.

Patten said Thomas had only been out of prison for a couple of months and still had time on a probation period.

Cedric Carter, 40, 13 South Circle Drive, was charged with trafficking a schedule II drug (cocaine), possession of a schedule II drug (crack-cocaine) with intent to distribute and possession of a schedule II drug (Codeine) with intent to distribute. He was also charged with possession of a stolen firearm and the drug charges included a church zone and firearm enhancement.

Patten said Carter is being charged as a habitual offender.

Dunmore did not set a bond Thursday, but on Friday set a bond at $27,500, on which Carter was released.

Dunmore said she took several things into consideration, including advice from the deputies, and thought about it over night. She then set the bond this morning.

“I had to think about it,” she said. “Everyone generally is entitled to a bond. The constitution requires a reasonable bond. Reasonable is a big word.”

Dunmore said sometimes a person should be required to stay in jail until their trial, if they are a danger to themselves, the community or they pose a high risk of failure to return.

“The whole purpose of a bond is so they will come back to court,” Dunmore said.

Dunmore said Carter has ties to the community, including a wife and children. Had Carter been more transient, Dunmore said she would have been less likely to set a bond.

“I think the bond is fair to him and the community,” she said.

Dunmore said she is not aware of a statute that requires a minimum or a maximum a bond should be set at.

“The seriousness of the crime weighs into how much a bond is,” Dunmore said. “You don’t set a $10,000 bond on a speeding ticket.”