Author: Michael Whitlock

By Michael J. Whitlock, Executive Vice President – Bail Division It was forty years ago this month, in October 1986, that I joined Underwriters Surety, Inc. (USI), a national managing agency founded by Jack Whitlock and Bill Carmichael. As it happens, I was the company's first employee. I was just 23 years old and had been working in the bail bond profession since the end of 1981. I had no idea where this opportunity would take me or that I would still be doing much the same thing forty years later. Jack and Bill would go on to acquire American Surety Company (ASC) in 1993. Over the next two decades, we would take ASC from being admitted in just one state, California, to all 50 states and the District of…

Michael J. Whitlock, Executive Vice President - Bail Division Occasionally, I’ll get asked, “Mike, what do you do for a living? I see from your social media posts that you travel quite a bit.” Setting aside the fact that in the month of August I visited 20 states and took 20 flights, I’m not a professional traveler—though sometimes it feels as though I am. My primary responsibility as Executive Vice President of American Surety Company’s Bail Division is to sign up new agents. That means spending a good deal of time talking with bail agents about their businesses, the challenges they face, and what they should expect from their surety. I believe American Surety Company has a pretty good story to tell. We’ve been in the bail business for 40…

Michael J. Whitlock, Executive Vice President, Bail Division I got off to a late start in 2026, but it’s off to the races now. I’ve already traveled to Las Vegas, Dallas, Sacramento, Modesto, and Austin, with Houston on deck next week. Much of that time has been spent onboarding new agents to American Surety Company and preparing presentations for upcoming bail agent conferences in Indiana and Mississippi. On the legislative front, I initially expected a relatively quiet year for bail reform. To some degree, that has proven true—but there are still several significant developments I’ve been following, and in some cases, directly participating in. Here in the home state of the National Champion Indiana Hoosiers, the legislature passed SJR1, which will place a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot.…

By Michael J. Whitlock, Executive Vice President - Bail Division Indiana Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR-1) proposes to amend constitutional language governing bail and pretrial detention that has remained unchanged since 1851. When Indiana adopted its current constitution, the United States was led by Millard Fillmore, and the nation was in the antebellum era—long before modern policing, electronic monitoring, or large-scale pretrial incarceration. The framers crafted a framework in which bail was a constitutional right, denied only in limited circumstances, reflecting a strong preference for liberty before conviction. The intent of SJR-1 is clear and broadly shared: to enhance public safety by allowing courts to detain individuals who present a genuine and demonstrable risk to others or the community while their cases are pending. Supporters cite repeat offending and serious…

  by Michael J. Whitlock, Executive Vice President – Bail Division “Where in the world is Mike?” is something I get asked a lot during my travels — though occasionally, I have to ask that of myself. A few weeks back, I was speaking before a group of agents about bail issues being addressed across various states when I had a senior moment: “What state am I in now?” I asked the group. “Idaho,” they replied in unison. Travel for me is steady throughout the year but particularly dense in the fall months when annual meetings are held for state and national associations. Leading up to my trip to Pocatello for the Professional Bail Agents of Idaho Annual Meeting, I had already been to Ohio, Georgia, and Texas — on…

By Michael Whitlock, Executive Vice President - Bail Division Article I, Section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution states: "That all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offenses, when the proof is evident and the presumption great." This language has been part of Tennessee law since 1870, when the state adopted its third and current constitution. It has served the people of Tennessee for more than 150 years — but that stability could end in 2026. The Tennessee Legislature has passed SJR0025, a resolution proposing to amend Article I, Section 15 to expand the categories of offenses for which bail may be denied. The amendment will be placed before voters in the November 3, 2026, general election. If approved, individuals charged with violent offenses — including second degree…

Michael J. Whitlock, Executive Vice President - Bail Division   I traveled to Florida not just for the seventy-degree weather but to attend the Florida Bail Agents Association (FBAA) Spring Meeting with American Surety Company Vice President Dan Amato. The weather was pleasant, but even more rewarding was seeing all the hardworking members of the association dedicated to improving their profession. What impresses me most about this organization is its persistence and commitment to the task at hand. Under the leadership of President Carey Carlisle, the FBAA Board volunteers their time and resources to ensure their efforts pay off for its membership. We are in the midst of another legislative session, and capitalizing on the relationships developed with state legislators is crucial. It’s essential that representatives in Tallahassee understand the…