Thank you very much, Mr. Preski.

Well, trial in absentia, which means trial in their absence, has been upheld by the appellate courts.

Do you think it's too tough to subject grandma to the possible loss of her home?

There have been some suggestions of seeking family sureties with the home property as collateral. Do you think that is worth exploring?

We have had a number of efforts to bring the Federal Government into the bail picture.

Well, I understand the problems that the Clerk of Quarter Sessions has, Ms. Vivian Miller. She's your superior, right?

What happens to the person who has skipped bail? Is there an additional penalty, an additional charge?

How successful was it?

Is there a separate offense for jumping bail?

Because the appellate courts have upheld it. There is a constitutional right to a jury trial, so we can't change it by legislation.

So it's a breakdown nationally, not just Philadelphia. We've got a lot of company.

But we ought to explore ways of implementing trial by absentia, which would put people on notice that they can't game the system and have witnesses not show up because they failed to appear.

In Philadelphia, the defendants know that there is no certainty.

I think a hybrid of appointment and direct election, I think, would be helpful in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Would you recommend to a city like Philadelphia that they go back to commercial bail?

We want to be helpful to you. You've got a big job and we want to help you carry it out.

This is a matter where I think the Federal Government ought to play a significant role.

So the statute does allow for increasing the penalty which is prescribed by statute for an offense?

Well, I believe that for the most part the sentencing is not the issue when it comes to our fugitive problem.

Would there be any utility in having a separate offense or indicting for a separate criminal charge?

You are the first District Attorney who didn't work in my office in modern times.

Senator Durbin and Senator Elizabeth Dole had similar legislation.

Well, it's a pretty big omission, not to register the fugitives with the national system.

So, frequently, the expression, the attorney-client relationship has not been consummated, taking that expression.

Isn't the practical effect of not reporting to the national clearinghouse fugitives really knowing the system, gaming the system, remaining at large and really thumbing their nose at the Philadelphia criminal justice system?