Blog

In the bail bond business paying a loss as a result of an inability to recovery a fugitive is a sign of failure.  Paying bond forfeiture losses can be attributed to underwriting, a lack of experience, initiative and simply bad luck.  A loss can be damaging financially and could even put a bail agent out of business.  Even with a loss there can be a silver lining. How many of us working in the bail industry have been told by legislatures, law enforcement and adversaries that bail agents don’t have to pick up defendants who fail to appear because law enforcement does this for them?  This may be the single most misrepresentation perpetrated on our industry. I have underwritten thousands of bonds over the years and several of those bonds…

In the wake of a recent failed effort to repeal Indiana's no-credit law, the ISBAA will hold a debate on the issue during its annual membership meeting.  ISBAA had taken a position in opposition to the repeal of no-credit.  The meeting will be held at the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Indiana, Saturday, May 18. I have agreed to participate in the debate arguing in favor of repealing Indiana's no-credit law as a means of competing with the ten percent cash bond option favored by the majority of Indiana counties. Some of the reasoning behind this position can be found in my recent blog, Effort to Repeal No-Credit Fails. All Indiana bail agents are urged to attend the meeting in Michigan City.  In addition to discussing whether or not to…

Young Harris, GA - In North Georgia, just a few miles south of the North Carolina line sits the Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa, site of the 2013 Spring Meeting of the Georgia Association of Professional Bondsmen, Inc.  The spring meeting is typically held on St. Simon's Island or in Savannah.  New GAPB President Scott Echols wanted to mix it up a bit and opted for the mountains of North Georgia for the first meeting of 2013. I had accepted an invitation to speak on legislative matters impacting other states around the country. Though I was able to cover a lot of ground, an hour was not enough time to get to every issue. Being aware of trends affecting bail in other states can help state associations plan their legislative strategies…

Indianapolis, IN - An effort to repeal Indiana’s no-credit law on bail premiums failed yesterday.  Amendment HB1006 #30 was offered by Senator Steele during the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Senator Steele is a longtime supporter of commercial bail and public safety issues.  The president of the Indiana Surety Agents Association testified in opposition to the amendment, specifically that portion dealing with the repeal of no-credit on bond premium.  As a result, the amendment failed to pass. The proposed amendment did two things. Number one, it repealed the no-credit law allowing bail agents to accept payment terms on the premium.  Current Indiana law requires bail agents to collect the entire premium prior to posting a bond.  Number two; it is the defendant’s choice to post a full cash bond or a bail bond.  Current…

Las Vegas, NV - The Professional Bail Agents of the United States recently held its 2013 Winter Conference in Las Vegas.  I was in attendance and found The Mirage Hotel & Casino a welcoming venue for this year’s event.  American Idol was taping its show in the hotel’s Beatles’ Love Theater, which provided an added boost of excitement to the week. It was apparent at the 2012 Mid-Year meeting in San Diego, PBUS was moving to a healthier place financially.  PBUS had shed itself of the top-heavy expenses that dogged them for too many years.  At the meeting last week, the Board of Directors reported the bail industry’s national association was flush with cash and in a very good place financially. Current PBUS President Scott Hall of Georgia introduced Corrine Markey as the new…

The historic city of Savannah, GA was not as inviting as it can be as attendees of the meeting of the Georgia Association of Professional Bondsmen were met with a cool rain and stiff breeze. However, it didn’t take long for things to heat up inside the Hyatt Regency where the election of GAPB officers and directors was taking place.   It was standing room only in the stuffy meeting room where the air was electric and candidates were working to secure votes from GAPB members. It was all, outgoing GAPB President, Jared Skelton could do to keep control of the room while we all heard from the candidates making their case for why they were the most qualified to serve in the positions they were seeking.   In the end, Scott…

I must admit, I had never heard of League City, Texas before seeing it on the PBT meeting schedule.  League City sits astride the Gulf of Mexico about 30 miles south of Houston. Anyone who attends PBT meetings know it's going to be meticulously organized and well attended.  The 2012 annual meeting was moved to League City after a string of Fall meetings in San Antonio.  One of the basic planning challenges for any association is selecting a meeting site that will inspire attendance.  Texas is one of those states where flying is a must for some of the meeting locations.  For instance, it's an eleven hour drive from El Paso to League City. PBT rolls allot into their annual meeting including The PBT Golf Classic and Auction benefiting The Texas Bail PAC, legislative meeting, board…

The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics recently released its report Criminal Victimization, 2011. This report reveals some alarming statistics with respect to the increase in crimes nationally.   According to the BJS report there was a 17% increase in the overall rate of violent victimization per 1000 persons age 12 and older. The rate of violent crimes increased from 19.3% in 2010 to 22.5% in 2011. Household burglaries increased 14% in 2011 over 2010.   Property crimes also saw an increase of 11% year over year.   In my view the alarming increase in violent crimes is due, in part, to the departure by many courts across the country from guaranteeing the appearance in court of criminal defendants with a bail bond. They instead use release options designed to generate revenues for…

Are you one of those bail agents that swears off participation in state and national bail associations as a waste of time? You question the leadership or legislative agenda of these associations? Perhaps you believe the association is controlled by one surety company or another or perhaps a large general agency.   It may be that your resistance to get involved is simple apathy or bail is still strong in your county and you’re not concerned about what’s happening elsewhere.   Well, it’s time to get involved.   Perhaps you’ve heard of billionaire George Soros? Well, he’s taken up the cause of pretrial detainees by providing substantial funding to the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) to promote the elimination of money bail, bail bonds in favor of less restrictive and cost free (to the…

A common misnomer among the general public is, regardless of the economy there will always be crime and as such business will always be booming for bail agents. If only that were true, like any other small business, bail agents are feeling the pinch in these tough times.    A bad economy can and has created a number of negative financial impacts on the commercial bail industry and they come from different sources. When someone is arrested they would typically have any number of friends, family or co-workers they could call upon for assistance to post their bond.  With high unemployment, soaring gas prices and a home foreclosure epidemic, an arrestee’s circle of financial support has shrunk considerably. Most people are holding their cards close and their cash closer to deal with their…