The controversy over whether to release violent defendants from custody directly through the court system due to overcrowding in our state prisons, versus release by using a commercial bail bond agency is not a new topic by any means. The pros and cons of this issue have been an ongoing discussion between the Criminal Justice system and the commercial bail bond industry for years. What is probably not as public as it should be is that “Pre-trial Release Programs” cost taxpayers big bucks, while the bail bond approach, which is run by the private-sector, cost taxpayers “nothing”! Do I have your attention?
The truth of the matter is that the government’s issue with overcrowded jails makes them think they can just release the “lesser” violent criminals on their own recognizance and they will show up for their court appearances with absolutely no accountability to the court. They just release these defendants back into society where they can, and most likely will, become a repeat offender. Little are taxpayers aware that they pay for the release and possible re-arrest of each and every defendant being set free by the courts.
On the other side of the coin, the bail bond industry, which has been in existence since medieval times, has a huge success rate by making defendants they bail out “accountable” to them, for a price, in exchange for guaranteeing that they agree to show up in court for all their scheduled appearances. If they don’t, the bail bondsman can and does legally seek out the defendant to surrender them back to the court so they don’t have to pay the full amount of the bond initially issued. Defendants typically pay 10% of the total amount of the bond, which is based on a Bail Schedule issued by state governments in relation to the severity of the crime. This responsibility and financial risk is taken on solely by the owner of each bail bond agency, and in no way affects taxpayers in their pockets.
As a private citizen, wouldn’t you fear for your safety if you knew that these violent criminals were in your neighborhood? Does the government post this information for the public to read or send out a mailing? No! The only way you will ever know about their existence is if they commit another crime, and hopefully it won’t affect you or your family.
When a bail bond agent has a client that needs to appear in court, they usually contact that person to remind them of their court appearances that are coming up as well as the defendant’s co-signers to make sure the defendant shows up for court. The point here is the bail bond agency will not let the defendant become a “flight risk” because of what they stand to lose if they don’t appear in court. A Bail Bondsman will continue to make the defendant and his or her co-signers (usually family) accountable throughout the process until their case is settled.
Especially in today’s economy, wouldn’t you, the taxpayer, prefer to save your tax dollars for something you stand to benefit from? This means your tax dollars are releasing inmates back into society without even telling anybody, and with very little accountability or repercussions if the defendant doesn’t show up for court. The government-funded program release people on their own signature. So, if those people abscond there are basically no repercussions if they don’t show up because the government can’t afford to go out and chase them; whereas, bail agents go after criminals and bring them back to surrender them to the court. Citizens of the United States have a right to know how this issue affects them directly. They have a right to react to the issue and lobby or protest for total disclosure of these defendants in their neighborhoods.
The real estate industry is highly regulated and requires that when a Realtor sells a home, they must disclose any and all information that directly affects the sale of the property that they are aware of. This includes deaths, suicides or murders that occur on the property of that particular home, along with any structural damage the selling agent is aware of. So why doesn’t the judicial system have to disclose information that directly affects the public safety of its citizens and the communities they live in?
In conclusion, this issue will continue to go round and round until some private citizen or group takes action and brings the issue to the forefront. Perhaps writing to your senator about this problem and your concerns will light a fire under the bureaucrats in this country. In these economic times, our tax dollars need to be directed to issues that we, as taxpayers, benefit from, not stand to lose. Do you want your tax dollars to release felons from jail while their case is pending with no accountability and less that a 60% chance they’ll appear in court to answer to their charges?
Private Surety Bail Bonds do it at no cost to the tax payer and have nearly a 99% success rate at getting clients back to court. Private Bail Bond Companies make it a “family affair” meaning usually a family member is the one who co-signs to guarantee a person shows up for court. Not only do they co-sign but they often use some form of collateral to guarantee they show up. Very rarely does a family member abscond on another family member who co-signs for them. People on Private Surety Bail Bonds are two thirds more likely to appear in court than people released on government-funded pre-trial programs.