Blog

June 23, 2014 Today in New Jersey, lawmakers will hear testimony on a proposed bill that promises big changes in that state’s bail system, and not necessarily good ones.  If passed into law, the bill would take the cost of guaranteeing the appearance of criminal defendants in court and shift the cost from the defendant to the taxpayer. This bill, A1910, will be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  A1910 guarantees criminal defendants will be first considered for release on their own recognizance and supervised by a taxpayer funded pretrial release agency.  Requiring a defendant to post a bail bond would be the third release option and used only after a pretrial release person or a judge deems it necessary. Again, if this bill passes, the 9 million citizens in…

Like any other small business, bail bond company owners must pay taxes, hire staff, require the services of rental space, telephones, marketing companies, yellow pages and web companies. You can also find many bond companies participating in community events.   A few weeks ago I was invited by Gene and Amy Points of Muskogee, Oklahoma to join them as their company, Advantage Bail Bonds, took part in an annual chili cook off event.  I brought along my youngest daughter Samantha, who has not yet reached that age where she's embarrassed to hang out with Dad. We spent two beautiful days in Muskogee attending the cook off and enjoyed some great food and lively company.  We even took part in what must be the world’s longest small town parade riding on…

This has truly been the week from hell.  Agent issues, fugitive issues and logistical issues.  Throw in an overnight trip to South Carolina with back to back 6:00 a.m. departures for extra measure. It’s easy to get wrapped up in our own problems and mini-crises and forget what is really important; the well being of friends and family. Dale Neese is a longtime friend of mine out of Cumming, Georgia.  Dale also happens to write bail for American Surety Company.  This morning I received an update on his webpage at CaringBridge.org on the status of his battle with cancer that began with melanoma more than seven years ago.  The update told of yet another surgery Dale will undergo next week.  He has persevered through several surgeries and various and continuing…

My memory takes me all the way back to our house in Memphis circa 1972 when Dad had the multi-line phone stationed on the coffee table so he could listen in on bond calls taken by the office staff.  My Mom would take it in stride every time Dad would accept a call during dinner or the holidays and when he would leave the house to run a bond down to the jail. Mom would occasionally work at the various bonding company’s dad had owned.  She also worked at Texas Fire & Casualty and Underwriters Surety, Inc. through the years.  She handled agent licensing and prepared contracts.  Mom would find herself closing Dad’s door often because he had a tendency to cuss a lot in those days.   In addition…

The atrophication of the criminal justice system over the past several decades is nothing short of remarkable.  My memory goes back to the late sixties.  Remember how safe we felt as kids? Our parents let us roam the neighborhoods and walk to the convenience store and bus stops unchaperoned.  No fear. Come forward five decades.  Now we drive our kids to school even if school is three blocks away.  We make sure we pickup our kids from soccer practice on time so they don't sit on the bleachers alone and unguarded.  Fear. A front-page article appeared in today's issue of the USA Today, The Ones That Get Away.  The gist of the article is more than a few prosecutor's across the nation are passing on the opportunity to extradite fugitives,…

 How would you feel about driving a car with brakes guaranteed to work 70% of the time?  What about strapping on a parachute with a low failure-to-open rate of just 30%?  According to an online article posted by the Los Angeles Times, System would change how L.A. County inmates get early release the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office will be submitting a proposal to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to move to a “risk based” system to determine which inmates should receive early release.  A 70% success rate appears to be good enough for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office. California’s prison realignment has really made a mess of the criminal justice system that was already facing big challenges.  California is notorious for it 70% recidivism rate among parolees…

Driving on the streets of Indy this time of year looks oddly similar to the warm-up lap just prior to the start of the Indy 500 with commuters zigzagging on city streets.  The reason for the ess maneuvers is not to warm-up tires but to dodge the gaping pot holes created by all the salt put on the roads to deal with the ice and snow. The Polar Vortex created a miserable winter for everyone from South Dakota to Texas to New York with regular doses of sleet, ice and record snow falls.  This may have been the impetus for the 2014 PBUS Winter Conference in Las Vegas enjoying record attendance.  The near perfect weather in Las Vegas was just too tempting to pass up for many of us. The…

 I traveled to Sacramento, California last week to attend an area meeting of the California Bail Agents Association.  Current CBAA President Maggie Kreins is following through on her promise have more interaction with California Bail Agents. The meeting was productive with Lynn Brown, CEO of Advocates for Public Safety, making a presentation on the projected unintended consequences of AB 109 – Prison Realignment.   The released of tens of thousands of “low level offenders” from California State Prison has created a crime wave through the state. Unfortunately, there are felons convicted of aggregated offenses who are being classified as “low level offenders” release back into society resulting in an increase in violent crime and crime in general. I met with Assemblyman Curt Hagman at the State Capitol to discuss impact of…

Every now and then a bill will be introduced in a state legislature that has something for everyone.  Indiana State Sen. Brent Steele authored SB395 and filed it earlier this month and it should have broad appeal to all Hoosiers. SB395 would benefit school kids, public safety, victims rights, fair competition, defendant's rights and taxpayers. This measure won a Do Pass vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee January 28th and must now receive sufficient votes to pass through the Senate.  That vote will take place Monday or Tuesday. SB395 must receive sufficient votes to pass.   All Indiana bail agents and recovery agents are urged to email or call their State Senator today and ask them to support SB395. Spread the word to your friends, family and teachers SB395 is good for them as parents, taxpayers and for their personal safety.  Here's why.…

Just last night my daughter Samantha, a seventh grader, sang the National Anthem at the boys’ middle-school basketball game with just five minutes’ notice.  She volunteered after the scheduled singer cancelled.  She had never before sung the National Anthem in front of a crowd.  Kids are fearless. As we roll into another legislative season there will be times when someone representing the bail profession will testify at their state house in support of, or in opposition to, a piece of legislation.  I’ve had the opportunity on several occasions to testify before a legislative body about bail bonds.  I’ve found it to be exhilarating. In my experience, one must be prepared to articulate the purpose of a bail bond and the function of a bail agent as it relates to the…