William the Conqueror was the first Norman king of England, who reigned from 1066 until his death in 1087. During his reign, he established various reforms and legal systems, including the system of bail.
In medieval times, people who were accused of a crime were often held in jail until their trial, which could sometimes take years to occur.
William the Conqueror realized that this system was flawed, as it prevented people from working and supporting their families while they were waiting for their trial. To address this issue, he introduced the system of bail.
Under this new system, accused individuals could pay a sum of money to be released from jail while they waited for their trial. This allowed them to continue working and living their lives until they had to appear in court. If they were found guilty, the money would be forfeited to the court as a fine.
However, if they were found innocent, the money would be returned to them.
The system of bail helped to speed up the judicial process and ensure that innocent people were not unfairly punished by being held in jail for extended periods of time. It is still widely used today in many countries around the world.