Join us on Wednesday, 3/23/11, at 8:45 AM (PST) to hear a live on-air radio interview with International Fidelity Insurance Company’s Chief Legal Officer, Jerry Watson.
Tune in to KRCN 1060 AM in Denver to hear Jerry discuss the bail bond industry in Colorado. The program can be heard in Colorado Springs (KREL 1580 AM), Vail (KVLE 610 AM) and Buena Vista (KSKE 1450 AM).
If you would like to listen to the interview live, click on the link below on Wednesday morning at 8:45 AM (PST).
http://www.mainstreamnetwork.com/listen/player.asp?station=krcn-am&
Showing posts with label bail agent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bail agent. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Ridgewood, NY
The Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York City is an administrative facility housing male and female inmates. MCC New York is located in lower Manhattan, adjacent to Foley Square and across the street from the Federal courthouse.
MCC NEW YORK
METROPOLITAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER
150 PARK ROW
NEW YORK, NY 10007
MapQuest® Map and Directions
Phone: 646-836-6300
Fax: 646-836-7751
E-mail address2: NYM/EXECASSISTANT@BOP.GOV
Inmate Mail/Parcels
Do not send funds to this address; for more information go to the Inmate Money page. Use this address when sending correspondence and parcels to inmates confined at this facility.
INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER
MCC NEW YORK
METROPOLITAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER
150 PARK ROW
NEW YORK, NY 10007
It is the policy of MCC New York to maintain visiting facilities for the purpose of
maintaining family ties. Because of the nature of this facility, visits must be conducted under appropriate supervision so that security is maintained and the visiting privileges extended to inmates and their families are clearly communicated. For the purpose of this policy, the term pre-trial inmate refers to any inmate who is non-cadre, including holdovers, treaty transfers, BICE detainees, state inmates, and any designated inmate other than those assigned to the MCC New York Work Cadre Unit.
Visiting Rules / Regulations:
Although it is the intention of the Bureau of Prisons and this facility to provide the maximum amount of time possible for visiting, some practical considerations must be considered in the orderly management of this program.
An application and information form regarding visiting rules, regulations and directions has been prepared for all inmates to read and send to their visitors (Attachment A). It is the inmate's responsibility to send the form to the prospective visitor. This application form must be completed legibly and in its entirety, and returned for approval before the prospective visitor is permitted to visit.
Follow the link if you need a bail bond agent in Ridgewood, NY.
MCC NEW YORK
METROPOLITAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER
150 PARK ROW
NEW YORK, NY 10007
MapQuest® Map and Directions
Phone: 646-836-6300
Fax: 646-836-7751
E-mail address2: NYM/EXECASSISTANT@BOP.GOV
Inmate Mail/Parcels
Do not send funds to this address; for more information go to the Inmate Money page. Use this address when sending correspondence and parcels to inmates confined at this facility.
INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER
MCC NEW YORK
METROPOLITAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER
150 PARK ROW
NEW YORK, NY 10007
It is the policy of MCC New York to maintain visiting facilities for the purpose of
maintaining family ties. Because of the nature of this facility, visits must be conducted under appropriate supervision so that security is maintained and the visiting privileges extended to inmates and their families are clearly communicated. For the purpose of this policy, the term pre-trial inmate refers to any inmate who is non-cadre, including holdovers, treaty transfers, BICE detainees, state inmates, and any designated inmate other than those assigned to the MCC New York Work Cadre Unit.
Visiting Rules / Regulations:
Although it is the intention of the Bureau of Prisons and this facility to provide the maximum amount of time possible for visiting, some practical considerations must be considered in the orderly management of this program.
An application and information form regarding visiting rules, regulations and directions has been prepared for all inmates to read and send to their visitors (Attachment A). It is the inmate's responsibility to send the form to the prospective visitor. This application form must be completed legibly and in its entirety, and returned for approval before the prospective visitor is permitted to visit.
Follow the link if you need a bail bond agent in Ridgewood, NY.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Charleston, SC
Charleston County Detention Center
"The House"
3841 Leeds Avenue,
Charleston, SC
Contact Information:
Ashley Cash, Director of Support Services (843) 529-7332
Inactive Records (843) 529-7320
Logistics/ Environmental (843) 529-7431
Food Services (843) 529-7361
Detention Center Victim Services (843) 529-7471
Commissary (843) 529-7497
24 Hours, 7 Days per Week:
Communications/ Information (843) 529-7300
Medical Services (843) 529-7346
Detention Center Victim Services (843) 412-1433
Chief Deputy Mitch Lucas – Jail Administrator
The Operations Division within our Charleston County Detention Center is comprised of four Teams.
* The Operations Division maintains care and custody of inmates housed in the Detention Center. This includes maintaining proper security; conducting rounds and periodic counts of inmates; maintaining proper order and decorum among inmates; searching inmates; ensuring that the living quarters of inmates and the areas for which they are responsible are kept in a sanitary condition; issuing supplies to inmates; supervising the dispensing of food; checking incoming and outgoing mail; supervising work details of inmates in their units; documenting events, infractions of rules and any unusual occurrence; acting as a resource for inmate inquiries; and performing other duties as may be assigned.
* These four Teams are assigned to 12-hour rotating shifts working a minimum of seven days and seven nights in a four-week period. Detention Officers are under the direction and control of a Sergeant and Lieutenant (Tour Commander).
* All Detention Officers, within one year of their employment, attend the three week Basic Jail course of Instruction and are certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Prior to this certification officers are under the direct supervision of a Field Training Instructor, who teaches them everything needed to run a housing unit in the Detention Center. Annual training includes Interpersonal Communication Skills, American Red Cross First Aid and CPR, Defensive Tactics and Detention Center Policies and Procedures. Specialized training is also available in TASER or firearms training.
Bail Bonds:
If you or someone you know is looking for a bail bond in Charleston, South Carolina, call 800.938.2245. ExpertBail Agents are trusthworthy bail bond agents that are committed to providing quality support to those who are in need.
Visitation:
Visitation is scheduled by appointment by the inmate 24 hours in advance. Name of visitor(s) must be on the visitation schedule provided by the inmate, or visit will not be allowed. No more than two (2) visitors will be allowed per visit. Out of state visitors’ who present out of state picture I.D. may be granted an unscheduled visit if space is available.
Visiting Hours
Monday- Friday: 12pm- 5pm and 6pm-8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am- 12pm and 1pm-5pm
Visitor Rules and Regulations
* All visitors must properly identify themselves with legal picture ID.
* Visitors will not enter any areas of the facility except approved routes to and from the visiting area.
* Visitors under the influence of alcohol and drugs will not be admitted to the facility.
* Visitors must be at least 17 years of age.
* Children cannot be left in the Lobby unattended
* Visitors may not give or receive anything from an inmate.
* No personal effects such as purses, smoking materials, are allowed in the Detention Center.
* All visitors are subject to search before entering the Detention Center
* Members of the Clergy related to an inmate fall under the rules of general visitation
* Disorderly contact will not be tolerated.
Mail
When sending mail to an inmate you must follow these rules.
* Put your name and return address on the envelope.
* Put the inmate’s full name (the name in which they were booked in under).
* Address the envelope like the following example:
John Doe #1231231 C/O
Charleston County Detention Center
3841 Leeds Ave.
Charleston SC, 29405
* The only mail allowed to be received by inmates are letters only. No packages are accepted at the Detention Center. The only exception to this is pictures. Inmates may receive five (5) but they cannot be Polaroid.
* Incoming and outgoing mail will be inspected for contraband. Any mail found to contain contraband will be held by the Detention Center and may serve as the basis for disciplinary or criminal charges.
"The House"
3841 Leeds Avenue,
Charleston, SC
Contact Information:
Ashley Cash, Director of Support Services (843) 529-7332
Inactive Records (843) 529-7320
Logistics/ Environmental (843) 529-7431
Food Services (843) 529-7361
Detention Center Victim Services (843) 529-7471
Commissary (843) 529-7497
24 Hours, 7 Days per Week:
Communications/ Information (843) 529-7300
Medical Services (843) 529-7346
Detention Center Victim Services (843) 412-1433
Chief Deputy Mitch Lucas – Jail Administrator
The Operations Division within our Charleston County Detention Center is comprised of four Teams.
* The Operations Division maintains care and custody of inmates housed in the Detention Center. This includes maintaining proper security; conducting rounds and periodic counts of inmates; maintaining proper order and decorum among inmates; searching inmates; ensuring that the living quarters of inmates and the areas for which they are responsible are kept in a sanitary condition; issuing supplies to inmates; supervising the dispensing of food; checking incoming and outgoing mail; supervising work details of inmates in their units; documenting events, infractions of rules and any unusual occurrence; acting as a resource for inmate inquiries; and performing other duties as may be assigned.
* These four Teams are assigned to 12-hour rotating shifts working a minimum of seven days and seven nights in a four-week period. Detention Officers are under the direction and control of a Sergeant and Lieutenant (Tour Commander).
* All Detention Officers, within one year of their employment, attend the three week Basic Jail course of Instruction and are certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Prior to this certification officers are under the direct supervision of a Field Training Instructor, who teaches them everything needed to run a housing unit in the Detention Center. Annual training includes Interpersonal Communication Skills, American Red Cross First Aid and CPR, Defensive Tactics and Detention Center Policies and Procedures. Specialized training is also available in TASER or firearms training.
Bail Bonds:
If you or someone you know is looking for a bail bond in Charleston, South Carolina, call 800.938.2245. ExpertBail Agents are trusthworthy bail bond agents that are committed to providing quality support to those who are in need.
Visitation:
Visitation is scheduled by appointment by the inmate 24 hours in advance. Name of visitor(s) must be on the visitation schedule provided by the inmate, or visit will not be allowed. No more than two (2) visitors will be allowed per visit. Out of state visitors’ who present out of state picture I.D. may be granted an unscheduled visit if space is available.
Visiting Hours
Monday- Friday: 12pm- 5pm and 6pm-8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am- 12pm and 1pm-5pm
Visitor Rules and Regulations
* All visitors must properly identify themselves with legal picture ID.
* Visitors will not enter any areas of the facility except approved routes to and from the visiting area.
* Visitors under the influence of alcohol and drugs will not be admitted to the facility.
* Visitors must be at least 17 years of age.
* Children cannot be left in the Lobby unattended
* Visitors may not give or receive anything from an inmate.
* No personal effects such as purses, smoking materials, are allowed in the Detention Center.
* All visitors are subject to search before entering the Detention Center
* Members of the Clergy related to an inmate fall under the rules of general visitation
* Disorderly contact will not be tolerated.
When sending mail to an inmate you must follow these rules.
* Put your name and return address on the envelope.
* Put the inmate’s full name (the name in which they were booked in under).
* Address the envelope like the following example:
John Doe #1231231 C/O
Charleston County Detention Center
3841 Leeds Ave.
Charleston SC, 29405
* The only mail allowed to be received by inmates are letters only. No packages are accepted at the Detention Center. The only exception to this is pictures. Inmates may receive five (5) but they cannot be Polaroid.
* Incoming and outgoing mail will be inspected for contraband. Any mail found to contain contraband will be held by the Detention Center and may serve as the basis for disciplinary or criminal charges.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Cassoday, KS
Butler County
Adult Detention Facility
701 S. Stone Road
El Dorado, KS 67042
Phone 316-320-7766 or 800-822-4796
The current Butler County Detention Facility opened in January of 2003. It is a modern 250-bed facility located one mile east of El Dorado, south of US Highway 54 on Stone Road. The facility employees 61 full time detention officers and houses inmates from not only Butler County, but also supplies beds to the US Marshals Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and various other outside agencies.
The Butler County Jail is equipped with an on-site staffed medical facility and the "Encore" educational program is available to inmates.
Dial 911 for Emergencies Only.
To contact the Sheriff's Administration Office - (316) 322-4254.
To report a crime - (316) 320-1294.
To report abuse - (316) 320-1294.
To report other offenses - (316) 320-1294.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office operates the Detention Facility located at 701 S.E. Stone Road, El Dorado, Kansas 67042. The facility is open 24 hours a day seven days a week, however not all services are available all hours. The Butler County Detention Facility holds only adult or adjudicated persons.
Bail Bondsman
If a person held in the Butler County facility and needs a bail bondsman in Cassoday, KS, it is the responsibility of the inmate or their family or friends to select the person or company to write the bond.
Cash Bonds
Cash bonds are accepted for the full amount of the bond. Certified cashier’s checks and money orders are accepted for the full amount of the bond. The receipt will be given to the inmate along with a copy of the cash bond.
Visitation
The Butler County Detention family visitation hours are from 8:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m., 1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Visitation days are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday depending on the pod location of the person you wish to visit. There is no family visitation on Tuesdays or Weekends.
Tuesdays are reserved for professional visitation, such as attorney’s, parole, probation
and other law enforcement officials. Each inmate received only one hour of visitation privileges per week. All persons entering the building for visitation must be properly attired at all times. Clothing requirements can be found at the reception desk.
To ensure a timely visit, call and verify that the inmate is still in custody, verify his visitation day and ensure that you are on his visitation list prior to coming to the detention.
Visitation Schedule
A Pod – Monday
B Pod – Friday
C Pod – Wednesday
D Pod – Thursday
Female – Friday
Adult Detention Facility
701 S. Stone Road
El Dorado, KS 67042
Phone 316-320-7766 or 800-822-4796
The current Butler County Detention Facility opened in January of 2003. It is a modern 250-bed facility located one mile east of El Dorado, south of US Highway 54 on Stone Road. The facility employees 61 full time detention officers and houses inmates from not only Butler County, but also supplies beds to the US Marshals Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and various other outside agencies.
The Butler County Jail is equipped with an on-site staffed medical facility and the "Encore" educational program is available to inmates.
Dial 911 for Emergencies Only.
To contact the Sheriff's Administration Office - (316) 322-4254.
To report a crime - (316) 320-1294.
To report abuse - (316) 320-1294.
To report other offenses - (316) 320-1294.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office operates the Detention Facility located at 701 S.E. Stone Road, El Dorado, Kansas 67042. The facility is open 24 hours a day seven days a week, however not all services are available all hours. The Butler County Detention Facility holds only adult or adjudicated persons.
Bail Bondsman
If a person held in the Butler County facility and needs a bail bondsman in Cassoday, KS, it is the responsibility of the inmate or their family or friends to select the person or company to write the bond.
Cash Bonds
Cash bonds are accepted for the full amount of the bond. Certified cashier’s checks and money orders are accepted for the full amount of the bond. The receipt will be given to the inmate along with a copy of the cash bond.
Visitation
The Butler County Detention family visitation hours are from 8:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m., 1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Visitation days are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday depending on the pod location of the person you wish to visit. There is no family visitation on Tuesdays or Weekends.
Tuesdays are reserved for professional visitation, such as attorney’s, parole, probation
and other law enforcement officials. Each inmate received only one hour of visitation privileges per week. All persons entering the building for visitation must be properly attired at all times. Clothing requirements can be found at the reception desk.
To ensure a timely visit, call and verify that the inmate is still in custody, verify his visitation day and ensure that you are on his visitation list prior to coming to the detention.
Visitation Schedule
A Pod – Monday
B Pod – Friday
C Pod – Wednesday
D Pod – Thursday
Female – Friday
Take a Short Survey & Enter to Win a Starbucks Gift Card!
Thirsty for some Starbucks coffee? Take this short 90 second survey on bail bonds and be entered into a raffle for a chance to win one of three Starbucks gift cards! For terms and conditions, click on the following link. http://tinyurl.com/5ub4rjc
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/489387/Bail-Bond-Survey-2
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Thursday, March 10, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: 9 Mile Point, LA
The Jefferson Parish Correctional Center (JPCC) is owned by the Jefferson Parish Government and is administered by the JPSO. The Correctional Center is primarily a pre-trial detainee prison and has a population of nearly 1,200 (including the Intake Booking Section).
The Correctional Center is located at:
100 Dolhonde St.
Gretna, LA 70053
The administrative offices of the Correctional Center are open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday (except for holidays).
You may reach the Correctional Center at 504-368-5360, fax number 504-374-7769 . The Correctional Center operator(s) are on duty 24 hours daily and will transfer you to the proper extension.
Correctional Administrator: Deputy Chief Sue Ellen Monfra
Deputy Administrator: Colonel Howard Lavin
Assistant Deputy Administrator: Captain Edward Olsen
The Jefferson Parish Correctional Center (JPCC) allows its inmates visitation rights.
Visitation is held from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, Monday through Sunday, 8:00 am-10:00 am Saturday, and 8:00 am-10:45 am on Sunday. Each housing area has a different visitation time. Visitors should contact the Correctional Center at (504) 374-7729, or (504) 374-7730 to determine the proper visitation day and time.
Visitors’ must be named on the inmate’s visitation card. Each card allows the inmate to list (3) adults, and (3) children. The list of names on an inmate’s card is confidential information and will not be disseminated to anyone.
Visitors’ must provide a valid state driver’s license, state identification, passport or military identification card to visit.
Children over the age of 13 are considered adults and must have a valid school identification card.
WARNING! Because the Correctional Center is a secure facility, NO personal items are allowed. The following items are not allowed into the facility, and some are considered contraband. Anyone bringing in the items listed will be instructed to leave the premises, and possibly incarcerated:
· Cell phones
· Beepers or pagers
· Lighters or matches
· Tobacco products
· Weapons of any kind (knives, firearms, etc)
· Food and Beverages
· Any types of bags, including purses and satchels
· Baby carriages or strollers
· Electronic devices of any kind
· Illegal drugs or paraphernalia
· Reading material
All visitors should be dressed appropriately. Visitors must enter the Correctional Center through the proper entrance and are subject to being searched. The Correctional Center is located at 100 Dolhonde Street, Gretna, LA 70053.
Parking is available for a fee in the Jefferson Parish parking lot(s) or on the street at city meters. Please note, that there is no parking on the street adjacent to the Correctional Center, as these spaces are reserved for emergency vehicles only. All persons parking in these areas are subject to being ticketed and towed.
Click on the following link if you need to contact a bail bondsman in 9 Mile Point, LA.
The Correctional Center is located at:
100 Dolhonde St.
Gretna, LA 70053
The administrative offices of the Correctional Center are open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday (except for holidays).
You may reach the Correctional Center at 504-368-5360, fax number 504-374-7769 . The Correctional Center operator(s) are on duty 24 hours daily and will transfer you to the proper extension.
Correctional Administrator: Deputy Chief Sue Ellen Monfra
Deputy Administrator: Colonel Howard Lavin
Assistant Deputy Administrator: Captain Edward Olsen
The Jefferson Parish Correctional Center (JPCC) allows its inmates visitation rights.
Visitation is held from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, Monday through Sunday, 8:00 am-10:00 am Saturday, and 8:00 am-10:45 am on Sunday. Each housing area has a different visitation time. Visitors should contact the Correctional Center at (504) 374-7729, or (504) 374-7730 to determine the proper visitation day and time.
Visitors’ must be named on the inmate’s visitation card. Each card allows the inmate to list (3) adults, and (3) children. The list of names on an inmate’s card is confidential information and will not be disseminated to anyone.
Visitors’ must provide a valid state driver’s license, state identification, passport or military identification card to visit.
Children over the age of 13 are considered adults and must have a valid school identification card.
WARNING! Because the Correctional Center is a secure facility, NO personal items are allowed. The following items are not allowed into the facility, and some are considered contraband. Anyone bringing in the items listed will be instructed to leave the premises, and possibly incarcerated:
· Cell phones
· Beepers or pagers
· Lighters or matches
· Tobacco products
· Weapons of any kind (knives, firearms, etc)
· Food and Beverages
· Any types of bags, including purses and satchels
· Baby carriages or strollers
· Electronic devices of any kind
· Illegal drugs or paraphernalia
· Reading material
All visitors should be dressed appropriately. Visitors must enter the Correctional Center through the proper entrance and are subject to being searched. The Correctional Center is located at 100 Dolhonde Street, Gretna, LA 70053.
Parking is available for a fee in the Jefferson Parish parking lot(s) or on the street at city meters. Please note, that there is no parking on the street adjacent to the Correctional Center, as these spaces are reserved for emergency vehicles only. All persons parking in these areas are subject to being ticketed and towed.
Click on the following link if you need to contact a bail bondsman in 9 Mile Point, LA.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
What is withdrawal of bail?
Have you ever heard of a bail bond being withdrawn? Well it can happen...especially if the defendant fails to live up to the agreed upon conditions of the bond. Watch the belowvideo to learn more. As always please post any additional bail bond related questions you have below and we will answer them for you in our next video series.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Aberdeen, NJ
Aberdeen, NJ is a suburban Township of 5.4 square miles containing a mix of residence, light industry and shopping centers. The Aberdeen Township Police Department are committed to providing a safe community for all.
Aberdeen, New Jersey
Monmouth County Correctional Institution
(732) 431-7863 - Main Desk
(877) 846-3465 - Inmate Information
1 Waterworks Road
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
The mission of the Sheriffs' Association of New Jersey is to promote, protect, preserve and enhance the Office of Sheriff in New Jersey in a collective and cooperative manner so that each Sheriff may effectively fulfill his or her responsibilities to the citizens as Sheriff, the chief law enforcement officer in his or her county.
The Sheriffs' in New Jersey stand ready to take on any task to help make their counties a safer place to live and work, whether it is a homeland security issue, or supporting the efforts of the municipal police, or protecting our Judges. We are there and we are a major part of the law enforcement community.
If you are arrested and need to post a bail bond in Aberdeen, NJ, but don't have the cash to cover the full bail bond amount, you may wish to hire a professional bail bond agent. ExpertBail is the only true National Bail Bond Network with bail agents in every state that bail can be written. To contact an ExpertBail Agent, please see the information below.
ExpertBail
1-800-938-BAIL (2245)
info@expertbail.com
Aberdeen, New Jersey
Monmouth County Correctional Institution
(732) 431-7863 - Main Desk
(877) 846-3465 - Inmate Information
1 Waterworks Road
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
The mission of the Sheriffs' Association of New Jersey is to promote, protect, preserve and enhance the Office of Sheriff in New Jersey in a collective and cooperative manner so that each Sheriff may effectively fulfill his or her responsibilities to the citizens as Sheriff, the chief law enforcement officer in his or her county.
The Sheriffs' in New Jersey stand ready to take on any task to help make their counties a safer place to live and work, whether it is a homeland security issue, or supporting the efforts of the municipal police, or protecting our Judges. We are there and we are a major part of the law enforcement community.
If you are arrested and need to post a bail bond in Aberdeen, NJ, but don't have the cash to cover the full bail bond amount, you may wish to hire a professional bail bond agent. ExpertBail is the only true National Bail Bond Network with bail agents in every state that bail can be written. To contact an ExpertBail Agent, please see the information below.
ExpertBail
1-800-938-BAIL (2245)
info@expertbail.com
Bail Bonds: Jerry Watson's Interview with KXNT, Las Vegas
See below to check out the interview that Jerry Watson, Chief Legal Officer of AIA, gave this weekend on KXNT in Las Vegas, NV. Jerry discussed ExpertBail, the bail bond industry and the shortcomings of taxpayer funded Pretrial Release Agencies.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Bail Bondsman Discusses Trade
ExpertBail Agent, Adam Buffington, was interviewed live on Sunday Morning on Fox9 Morning News in Minneapolis. Adam discussed ExpertBail, the bail bond industry and his non-profit mentorship program.
Even if you’ve never committed a crime yourself, you may get a 3 AM phone call from a loved one who is in jail and in need of bail money. Most people probably don’t know what to do next, but bail bondsman Adam Buffington does. See below to watch the video.
Even if you’ve never committed a crime yourself, you may get a 3 AM phone call from a loved one who is in jail and in need of bail money. Most people probably don’t know what to do next, but bail bondsman Adam Buffington does. See below to watch the video.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Apex, NC
Mission Statement
The Apex Police Department is committed to the preservation of public safety and peaceful order in Apex. With Pride, Integrity and Spirit of Service they build the public trust and partner with the community to protect persons and property, maintain order, and promote traffic safety. We provide unbiased and just enforcement of laws to protect the freedoms enjoyed in a democratic society.
We will strive to meet the responsibilities of our mission and our sworn oaths of office by:
* Working cooperatively with our partnerships to address neighborhood concerns;
* Preventing crime and protecting persons and property;
* Promoting traffic safety;
* Investigating criminal activity and apprehending criminals involved;
* Respecting the rights and dignity of all persons.
Our Values
Our values are Service, Integrity and Pride and are thus explained:
Service
We will model a spirit of dedicated service in conducting our varied operations. This spirit will be evident by our demonstration of courtesy, compassion, competence and bravery.
Integrity
We will hold ourselves and each other to the highest standards of honest, accountability and trustworthiness. Our commitment to do the right thing will build the public trust we are dependent upon, as we act ethically and lawfully in carrying out our mission.
Pride
We will strive each day to build upon the proud history of this department and our Town through our efforts to improve ourselves, and our chosen profession.
To Contact Us:
EMERGENCY: 911
Police Chief: Jack K. Lewis
Phone: 919-362-8661
Fax: 919-249-3459
Email: jack.lewis@apexnc.org
Email: ann.stephens@apexnc.org
Address:
205 Saunders St.
Apex, NC 27502
Report Crime Information:
If you have information about a crime that has occurred you can send your information to the Apex Police Department 100% Anonymously.
You can report crime information 100% anonymously via text message. Text your crime tip information to Tip411 (847411) using keyword ApexPD.
Wake County, NC Jail
John H. Baker Jr Public Safety Center
330 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: 919-856-6900
Fax: 919-856-6874
Bail Bond Information
To speak with a professional bail bondsman in Apex, NC call 800.938.2245. ExpertBail Agents are professional bail bond agents that provide quality support to those in need.
For Visitation At All Detention Facilities
* Visiting Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
* Visitation Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
o Exception: No visits will be permitted on a County holiday
* To schedule an appointment call 919-857-9103 (Monday – Thursday 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.)
Guidelines
1. Each inmate will receive one (1) visit for (45) minutes every other week.
2. Each inmate may receive two (2) visitors: either two adults, or one adult and one child.
THE TWO MUST VISIT AT THE SAME TIME.
3. Visitors must be age sixteen (16) years of age to visit.
4. All visitors (16) and over must have a valid, government issued picture identification.
5. No property or money will be received for inmates at the Visitation Center.
6. Any visitor who brings or attempts to bring in any item of contraband into the Detention Facility will be prosecuted.
7. All visitors must follow the visitor’s dress regulations to participate in the visitation program.
8. Visitors or inmates who are disruptive or intoxicated will be denied visitation privileges.
9. When visitor’s time has expired, they are to leave the visiting area when advised to do so by the Detention Staff.
10. Visitors will not enter any other areas of the facility when visiting.
11. All handbags, purses, cell phones etc., must be stored in lockers.
12. Only person registered by Officer will be allowed to visit. If a visitor refuses to give the requested information, then the visit will be denied.
13. Visitors who violate facility rules may have their visitation privileges suspended or terminated by the Officer in Charge (OIC) on duty.
The Apex Police Department is committed to the preservation of public safety and peaceful order in Apex. With Pride, Integrity and Spirit of Service they build the public trust and partner with the community to protect persons and property, maintain order, and promote traffic safety. We provide unbiased and just enforcement of laws to protect the freedoms enjoyed in a democratic society.
We will strive to meet the responsibilities of our mission and our sworn oaths of office by:
* Working cooperatively with our partnerships to address neighborhood concerns;
* Preventing crime and protecting persons and property;
* Promoting traffic safety;
* Investigating criminal activity and apprehending criminals involved;
* Respecting the rights and dignity of all persons.
Our Values
Our values are Service, Integrity and Pride and are thus explained:
Service
We will model a spirit of dedicated service in conducting our varied operations. This spirit will be evident by our demonstration of courtesy, compassion, competence and bravery.
Integrity
We will hold ourselves and each other to the highest standards of honest, accountability and trustworthiness. Our commitment to do the right thing will build the public trust we are dependent upon, as we act ethically and lawfully in carrying out our mission.
Pride
We will strive each day to build upon the proud history of this department and our Town through our efforts to improve ourselves, and our chosen profession.
To Contact Us:
EMERGENCY: 911
Police Chief: Jack K. Lewis
Phone: 919-362-8661
Fax: 919-249-3459
Email: jack.lewis@apexnc.org
Email: ann.stephens@apexnc.org
Address:
205 Saunders St.
Apex, NC 27502
Report Crime Information:
If you have information about a crime that has occurred you can send your information to the Apex Police Department 100% Anonymously.
You can report crime information 100% anonymously via text message. Text your crime tip information to Tip411 (847411) using keyword ApexPD.
Wake County, NC Jail
John H. Baker Jr Public Safety Center
330 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: 919-856-6900
Fax: 919-856-6874
Bail Bond Information
To speak with a professional bail bondsman in Apex, NC call 800.938.2245. ExpertBail Agents are professional bail bond agents that provide quality support to those in need.
For Visitation At All Detention Facilities
* Visiting Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
* Visitation Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
o Exception: No visits will be permitted on a County holiday
* To schedule an appointment call 919-857-9103 (Monday – Thursday 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.)
Guidelines
1. Each inmate will receive one (1) visit for (45) minutes every other week.
2. Each inmate may receive two (2) visitors: either two adults, or one adult and one child.
THE TWO MUST VISIT AT THE SAME TIME.
3. Visitors must be age sixteen (16) years of age to visit.
4. All visitors (16) and over must have a valid, government issued picture identification.
5. No property or money will be received for inmates at the Visitation Center.
6. Any visitor who brings or attempts to bring in any item of contraband into the Detention Facility will be prosecuted.
7. All visitors must follow the visitor’s dress regulations to participate in the visitation program.
8. Visitors or inmates who are disruptive or intoxicated will be denied visitation privileges.
9. When visitor’s time has expired, they are to leave the visiting area when advised to do so by the Detention Staff.
10. Visitors will not enter any other areas of the facility when visiting.
11. All handbags, purses, cell phones etc., must be stored in lockers.
12. Only person registered by Officer will be allowed to visit. If a visitor refuses to give the requested information, then the visit will be denied.
13. Visitors who violate facility rules may have their visitation privileges suspended or terminated by the Officer in Charge (OIC) on duty.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Bail Bondsmen Do Good
Bail Bondsmen Do Good
By Sandra Ryder
http://technorati.com/business/article/bail-bondsmen-do-good/
My last article, “The Bail Bonds Industry Should Learn From the Banking Industry”, outlined a difficult future for the bail bonds industry if some serious issues are left unchecked. It evoked a strong response from bail bond insiders across the country and subsequently triggered a deluge of comments, emails and voice mails. While most agreed with the article's premise, that it is in everyone's best interest when the bail bonds industry is held to the highest standards, many were quick to point out that some are unilaterally making that commitment.
One of the key points in my previous article centered on the importance that public perception and sentiment plays in driving regulatory and statutory changes. If the public cries foul loud enough, their collective voice will motivate politicians and regulators to step in and respond with action.
Nothing does more to ingratiate a community to the any industry, on a local level, than grass roots charitable initiatives. Bail bond agencies frequently act as benefactors to numerous charitable causes, but often do so without recognition or fan fare. For example, Payless Bail Bond's Christmas on Wheels, gave fifty bikes to needy Las Vegas children over the holidays, but did so without press releases or an expectation of anything in return. All across the country, other stand out bail bond agencies performed similar good deeds in their own communities and with similar anonymity. Far too often, these types of activities go unrecognized by the public. At the same time, these charitable programs go a very long way in establishing bail bondsmen as integral parts of our communities and good stewards of the public's trust.
While community outreach is important, it will be a moot point, if the commitment to high ethical standards on a professional level is not achieved. Of course, regulators define what the minimum standards are in their respective states, but some bail bondsmen have taken the initiative to elevate their professionalism and committed to doing business in the highest ethical manner. Bail bondsmen demonstrate this commitment by the company they keep and the industry affiliations they maintain.
Expert Bail, which is backed by AIA, an established family of bail bond surety companies, strives to bring value to consumers by directing them to bail agents that have met a certain level of experience, professionalism and trustworthiness. They claim to be “comprised of the industry’s best and most experienced agents who are all committed to raising the standards in the bail industry.”
Beyond affiliations within the industry, bail agents can demonstrate their professionalism by expressly committing to a formal code of ethics. The Professional Bail Agents of the United States (“PBUS”), an industry trade association, has created a code of ethics that outlines best practices. Its code delineates how member bail agents should interact with clients, the general public, the government sector and fellow bail agents.
While none of the aforementioned things guarantee bail bonds will be immune from greater scrutiny or oversight. They do provide great examples of ways in which bail bondsmen can demonstrate their commitment to improving their respective communities, businesses and industry. At the end of the day, that is what the general public, regulators and law makers are looking for anyway.
Please click on the following link for the full article.
By Sandra Ryder
http://technorati.com/business/article/bail-bondsmen-do-good/
My last article, “The Bail Bonds Industry Should Learn From the Banking Industry”, outlined a difficult future for the bail bonds industry if some serious issues are left unchecked. It evoked a strong response from bail bond insiders across the country and subsequently triggered a deluge of comments, emails and voice mails. While most agreed with the article's premise, that it is in everyone's best interest when the bail bonds industry is held to the highest standards, many were quick to point out that some are unilaterally making that commitment.
One of the key points in my previous article centered on the importance that public perception and sentiment plays in driving regulatory and statutory changes. If the public cries foul loud enough, their collective voice will motivate politicians and regulators to step in and respond with action.
Nothing does more to ingratiate a community to the any industry, on a local level, than grass roots charitable initiatives. Bail bond agencies frequently act as benefactors to numerous charitable causes, but often do so without recognition or fan fare. For example, Payless Bail Bond's Christmas on Wheels, gave fifty bikes to needy Las Vegas children over the holidays, but did so without press releases or an expectation of anything in return. All across the country, other stand out bail bond agencies performed similar good deeds in their own communities and with similar anonymity. Far too often, these types of activities go unrecognized by the public. At the same time, these charitable programs go a very long way in establishing bail bondsmen as integral parts of our communities and good stewards of the public's trust.
While community outreach is important, it will be a moot point, if the commitment to high ethical standards on a professional level is not achieved. Of course, regulators define what the minimum standards are in their respective states, but some bail bondsmen have taken the initiative to elevate their professionalism and committed to doing business in the highest ethical manner. Bail bondsmen demonstrate this commitment by the company they keep and the industry affiliations they maintain.
Expert Bail, which is backed by AIA, an established family of bail bond surety companies, strives to bring value to consumers by directing them to bail agents that have met a certain level of experience, professionalism and trustworthiness. They claim to be “comprised of the industry’s best and most experienced agents who are all committed to raising the standards in the bail industry.”
Beyond affiliations within the industry, bail agents can demonstrate their professionalism by expressly committing to a formal code of ethics. The Professional Bail Agents of the United States (“PBUS”), an industry trade association, has created a code of ethics that outlines best practices. Its code delineates how member bail agents should interact with clients, the general public, the government sector and fellow bail agents.
While none of the aforementioned things guarantee bail bonds will be immune from greater scrutiny or oversight. They do provide great examples of ways in which bail bondsmen can demonstrate their commitment to improving their respective communities, businesses and industry. At the end of the day, that is what the general public, regulators and law makers are looking for anyway.
Please click on the following link for the full article.
Stephen Owens, ExpertBail Agent, Interviewed on Your Hour
ExpertBail Agent Stephen Owens of Owens Bonding in Wichita, Kansas, spoke with Sheryl Nutt on Channel 46’s Your Hour (a news magazine). Stephen provided an overview of the bail bond industry and described to the television audience the role that bail agents play as “a third party accountability system for the courts.”
Stephen also helped explain that being a bail agent isn’t about risking his life pursuing criminals that have skipped out on their bail. The reality, according to Owens, is that if you do what you are supposed to and properly assess those you bail out and then monitor them to ensure they show up for court, you eliminate the number of those who skip. Even when they do miss a court date, those individuals are usually easily apprehended without any physical confrontation. This fact alone challenges the stereotype and common misperception that bail agents run through the streets with bullet proof vests with guns ablazin’.
While this is a less dramatic reality, it is the reality of the bail bond industry. Ms. Nutt also asked Steve how one should go about finding a bail agent. At this point Steve introduced and explained the ExpertBail Network and the power behind the nation’s only true national bail bond brand. According to Owens, “ExpertBail is a national network comprised of the most trusted and professional bondsmen throughout the country.”
Stephen also helped explain that being a bail agent isn’t about risking his life pursuing criminals that have skipped out on their bail. The reality, according to Owens, is that if you do what you are supposed to and properly assess those you bail out and then monitor them to ensure they show up for court, you eliminate the number of those who skip. Even when they do miss a court date, those individuals are usually easily apprehended without any physical confrontation. This fact alone challenges the stereotype and common misperception that bail agents run through the streets with bullet proof vests with guns ablazin’.
While this is a less dramatic reality, it is the reality of the bail bond industry. Ms. Nutt also asked Steve how one should go about finding a bail agent. At this point Steve introduced and explained the ExpertBail Network and the power behind the nation’s only true national bail bond brand. According to Owens, “ExpertBail is a national network comprised of the most trusted and professional bondsmen throughout the country.”
Monday, February 28, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: City of Sunrise, FL
GENERAL INFORMATION: When you were booked into the custody of the Broward County Jail, an arrest number (CIS #) was assigned to you. This number will identify you for as long as you are in jail. It is your responsibility to memorize your arrest number. It will help us and you identify and locate your personal property and any issues that are of importance to you. You will remain in one of our facilities until you post a bond, your case is disposed of by a judge, or your sentence is completed. Legal questions about your case are best answered by your attorney or public defender. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are heard in County Court, felony cases are heard in Circuit Court, and if you are here on a civil hold, the case will be heard by a Civil Court judge. If you are sentenced to serve one year or less, you will serve your sentence in one of the Broward County Jail facilities. If your sentence is more than one year, you will be transferred to the State Department of Corrections, providing that all outstanding charges have been resolved.
POSTING A BAIL BOND and MONEY: If you had money in your possession when you were booked, a money account was opened for your use. You will receive a receipt for the funds deposited into this account. You will be allowed to use the money in this account to bond yourself out of jail. If you need to give your money to someone outside the jail, you must complete a voucher form. Ask your housing deputy for a voucher. If you need assistance in completing it, they will help you. You cannot voucher money to someone who is incarcerated in a Broward County Jail. Any exceptions to this must be made by written request to the facility commander(s) and have their approval(s).
• Bonding Agent: You may contact a bonding agency to post a bond for you. For a complete list of trusted and professional bail bond agents in City of Sunrise, Florida, call 800.938.2245 or visit expertbail.com.
• Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) services are also available in the release / booking area at the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Main Jail - 555 SE 1st Avenue, for immediate bonding purposes only, for a fee of $3.00, per transaction. A charge in addition to this fee may be assessed by your financial institution.
• Western Union Services are also available – see details under section titled “Western Union Quick Collect Service.”
VISITATION:
1. The visiting schedule is posted on the bulletin board in your housing area / unit, telling you the day and times you may have visitors.
2. You will be given an opportunity for two (2) hours of visitation per week. You may only see up to (2) two visitors at a time.
3. Minors are only permitted to visit when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, unless the facility commander or designee authorizes, in advance of the visit, the minor to be accompanied by some other adult.
RULES FOR VISITORS: Please notify your visitors of the following rules:
• Visitors must have proper / current photo identification. (NO IDENTIFICATION - NO VISIT)
• Visitors must be on time.
• Visitors must abide by the dress code. (Read below, “Visitor’s Dress Code”)
• Visitors may be subjected to a pat-down / frisk search and / or electronic search for the detection of contraband. Children must be accompanied by an adult and supervised at all times.
• Visitors cannot be on parole, probation, or work release without the prior written permission of the facility commander.
• Visitors are not permitted to visit more than one inmate on any given day. An exception may be granted if the visitor is an immediate family member of more than one inmate confined in the facility. Other exceptions will be at the discretion of the facility commander.
• Obscene actions or gestures will terminate the visit. If you are asked to leave please do so immediately.
• Visitors are NOT permitted to pass / give any items to an inmate. (Violators are subject to arrest.)
Please notify your visitors that transportation is available by county buses, downtown trollies, or taxi cabs. They should contact the bus stations for route information. This information will be made available in all DOD facility lobbies.
VISITOR'S DRESS CODE: If your visitor refuses to comply with the dress code, your visit may be denied or terminated.
The following dress code will be enforced at all times.
a. Shirts and shoes must be worn.
b. Visitors wearing clothing marked by words or pictures that are profane or offensive will not be allowed.
c. Halter tops, swim suits, tank tops, strapless tops, spaghetti straps, sheer, see-through or provocative clothing, any clothing that exposes the midriff, short shorts, mini dresses, and mini skirts that appear too short are prohibited.
Intake & Release Process
Individuals who have been placed under arrest are first transported to Broward Sheriff's Office Central Intake Unit, which is located at the Main Jail in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Upon arrival, they must complete the following steps:
• Property Intake
• Medical Screening
• Fingerprinting
• Photographing
• Warrants Check
While the staff at Central Intake is dedicated to ensuring the prompt processing and release of eligible arrestees, the amount of time required to complete this process may be affected by the volume of arrestees being processed simultaneously and/or the availability of information from state and national databases.
Appearance in Magistrate Court
Arrestees who are not bonded out of jail appear before a magistrate judge the day following the arrest (including Saturdays and Sundays). Proceedings usually begin at 8 a.m., however this depends upon the presiding judge. The judge will inform the arrestee of the charge(s) and, if appropriate, will set a bond amount.
In misdemeanor cases, the judge may accept a guilty plea and release the arrestee on his or her own recognizance or for time-served.
Magistrate proceedings may be viewed on the monitor located in the lobby of BSO's Main Jail.
Housing Assignments
Individuals who are not released on bond are assigned to one of five BSO jails based upon objective criteria. This criteria ensures that inmates are housed in the least restrictive and safest unit possible based upon level of security required. Housing assignments are not made based on proximity to an inmate's home, but rather on the premise of assigning an inmate to the jail facility that can best meet his or her needs.
Inmate Activities, Services & Programs
Inmates are permitted to watch television and are provided with reading material to occupy free time. Weather permitting, inmates may also take part in outside recreation and use exercise equipment.
BSO's Department of Detention & Community Control provides a variety of programs and services to inmates, including:
• Adult Basic Education
• AIDS Awareness Training
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Anger Management Program
• Cocaine Anonymous
• Commissary
• GED Preparation & Testing
• Group Therapy
• Juvenile Programs
• Library Services
• Medical Services
• Mental Health Counseling
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Parenting Skills
• Pre-Release Planning
• Prevention & Intervention Program Against Drugs & Alcohol
• Relapse Prevention Program
• Religious Services & Counseling
• Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Training
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Veterans Group
• Work Release Programs
Additional information about these programs is available from detention deputies within the facility.
POSTING A BAIL BOND and MONEY: If you had money in your possession when you were booked, a money account was opened for your use. You will receive a receipt for the funds deposited into this account. You will be allowed to use the money in this account to bond yourself out of jail. If you need to give your money to someone outside the jail, you must complete a voucher form. Ask your housing deputy for a voucher. If you need assistance in completing it, they will help you. You cannot voucher money to someone who is incarcerated in a Broward County Jail. Any exceptions to this must be made by written request to the facility commander(s) and have their approval(s).
• Bonding Agent: You may contact a bonding agency to post a bond for you. For a complete list of trusted and professional bail bond agents in City of Sunrise, Florida, call 800.938.2245 or visit expertbail.com.
• Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) services are also available in the release / booking area at the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Main Jail - 555 SE 1st Avenue, for immediate bonding purposes only, for a fee of $3.00, per transaction. A charge in addition to this fee may be assessed by your financial institution.
• Western Union Services are also available – see details under section titled “Western Union Quick Collect Service.”
VISITATION:
1. The visiting schedule is posted on the bulletin board in your housing area / unit, telling you the day and times you may have visitors.
2. You will be given an opportunity for two (2) hours of visitation per week. You may only see up to (2) two visitors at a time.
3. Minors are only permitted to visit when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, unless the facility commander or designee authorizes, in advance of the visit, the minor to be accompanied by some other adult.
RULES FOR VISITORS: Please notify your visitors of the following rules:
• Visitors must have proper / current photo identification. (NO IDENTIFICATION - NO VISIT)
• Visitors must be on time.
• Visitors must abide by the dress code. (Read below, “Visitor’s Dress Code”)
• Visitors may be subjected to a pat-down / frisk search and / or electronic search for the detection of contraband. Children must be accompanied by an adult and supervised at all times.
• Visitors cannot be on parole, probation, or work release without the prior written permission of the facility commander.
• Visitors are not permitted to visit more than one inmate on any given day. An exception may be granted if the visitor is an immediate family member of more than one inmate confined in the facility. Other exceptions will be at the discretion of the facility commander.
• Obscene actions or gestures will terminate the visit. If you are asked to leave please do so immediately.
• Visitors are NOT permitted to pass / give any items to an inmate. (Violators are subject to arrest.)
Please notify your visitors that transportation is available by county buses, downtown trollies, or taxi cabs. They should contact the bus stations for route information. This information will be made available in all DOD facility lobbies.
VISITOR'S DRESS CODE: If your visitor refuses to comply with the dress code, your visit may be denied or terminated.
The following dress code will be enforced at all times.
a. Shirts and shoes must be worn.
b. Visitors wearing clothing marked by words or pictures that are profane or offensive will not be allowed.
c. Halter tops, swim suits, tank tops, strapless tops, spaghetti straps, sheer, see-through or provocative clothing, any clothing that exposes the midriff, short shorts, mini dresses, and mini skirts that appear too short are prohibited.
Intake & Release Process
Individuals who have been placed under arrest are first transported to Broward Sheriff's Office Central Intake Unit, which is located at the Main Jail in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Upon arrival, they must complete the following steps:
• Property Intake
• Medical Screening
• Fingerprinting
• Photographing
• Warrants Check
While the staff at Central Intake is dedicated to ensuring the prompt processing and release of eligible arrestees, the amount of time required to complete this process may be affected by the volume of arrestees being processed simultaneously and/or the availability of information from state and national databases.
Appearance in Magistrate Court
Arrestees who are not bonded out of jail appear before a magistrate judge the day following the arrest (including Saturdays and Sundays). Proceedings usually begin at 8 a.m., however this depends upon the presiding judge. The judge will inform the arrestee of the charge(s) and, if appropriate, will set a bond amount.
In misdemeanor cases, the judge may accept a guilty plea and release the arrestee on his or her own recognizance or for time-served.
Magistrate proceedings may be viewed on the monitor located in the lobby of BSO's Main Jail.
Housing Assignments
Individuals who are not released on bond are assigned to one of five BSO jails based upon objective criteria. This criteria ensures that inmates are housed in the least restrictive and safest unit possible based upon level of security required. Housing assignments are not made based on proximity to an inmate's home, but rather on the premise of assigning an inmate to the jail facility that can best meet his or her needs.
Inmate Activities, Services & Programs
Inmates are permitted to watch television and are provided with reading material to occupy free time. Weather permitting, inmates may also take part in outside recreation and use exercise equipment.
BSO's Department of Detention & Community Control provides a variety of programs and services to inmates, including:
• Adult Basic Education
• AIDS Awareness Training
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Anger Management Program
• Cocaine Anonymous
• Commissary
• GED Preparation & Testing
• Group Therapy
• Juvenile Programs
• Library Services
• Medical Services
• Mental Health Counseling
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Parenting Skills
• Pre-Release Planning
• Prevention & Intervention Program Against Drugs & Alcohol
• Relapse Prevention Program
• Religious Services & Counseling
• Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Training
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Veterans Group
• Work Release Programs
Additional information about these programs is available from detention deputies within the facility.
The Bounty Hunter's Pursuit of Justice
The Bounty Hunter's Pursuit of Justice
by Alex Tabarrok
The Wilson Quarterely
Andrew Luster had it all: a multimillion-dollar trust fund, good looks, and a bachelor pad just off the beach in Mussel Shoals, California. Luster, the great-grandson of cosmetics legend Max Factor, spent his days surfing and his nights cruising the clubs. His life would have been sad but unremarkable if he had not had a fetish for sex with unconscious women. When one woman alleged rape, Luster claimed mutual consent, but the videotapes the police discovered when they searched his home told a different story. Eventually, more than 10 women came forward, and he was convicted of 20 counts of rape and sentenced to 124 years in prison. There was only one problem. Luster could not be found.
Shortly before he was expected to take the stand, Luster withdrew funds from his brokerage accounts, found a caretaker for his dog, and skipped town on a $1 million bail bond. The FBI put Luster on its most-wanted list, but months passed with no results. In the end, the authorities did not find him. But Luster was brought to justice—by a dog (or at least a man who goes by that name). Duane Chapman, star of the A&E reality TV show Dog: The Bounty Hunter, tracked Luster for months. He picked up clues to Luster’s whereabouts from old phone bills and from Luster’s mother, who inadvertently revealed that her son spoke fluent Spanish. He also gleaned useful information from a mysterious Mr. X who taunted him by e-mail and who may have been Luster himself. Finally, a tip from someone who had seen Dog on television brought Chapman to a small town in Mexico known for its great surfing. Days later, he and his team spotted Luster at a taco stand, apprehended him, and turned him over to the local police.
Most people don’t realize how many fugitives from the law there are. About one-quarter of all felony defendants fail to show up on the day of their trial. Some of these absences are due to forgetfulness, hospitalization, or even imprisonment on another charge. But like Luster, many felony defendants skip court with willful intent. The police are charged with recapturing these fugitives, but some of them are chased by an even more tireless pursuer, the bounty hunter.
Bounty hunters and bail bondsmen play an important but unsung role in a legal system whose court dockets are too crowded to provide swift justice. When a suspect is arrested, a judge must make a decision: set the suspect free on his own recognizance until the court is ready to proceed, hold the suspect in jail, or release the accused on the condition that he post a bail bond. A bond is a promise backed by incentive. If the suspect shows up on the trial date, he gets his money back; but if he fails to show, the money is forfeited. We don’t want to deprive the innocent of their liberty, but we also don’t want to give the guilty too much of a head start on their escape. Bail bonds don’t solve this problem completely, but they do give judges an additional tool to help them navigate the dilemma.
Bail might be a rich man’s privilege were it not for the bail bondsman. (Many bondsmen are women, but “bondsperson” doesn’t have quite the same ring, so I’ll use the standard terminology.) In return for a non-refundable fee, usually around 10 percent of the bond, a bondsman will put up his own money with the court. A typical bond might run $6,000. If the defendant shows up, the bondsman earns $600. But if the defendant flees, the bondsman potentially can forfeit $6,000. Potentially, because when a fugitive fails to appear, the court gives the bondsman a notice that essentially says, “Bring your charge to justice soon or your money is mine.” A bondsman typically has 90 to 180 days to bring a fugitive back to justice, so when a defendant jumps bail, the bondsman lets the dogs loose.
Actually, that last image suggesting a massive manhunt is misleading. Bail bond firms are often small, family-run businesses—the wife writes the bonds and the husband, the “bounty hunter,” searches for clients who fail to show up in court. Although a bondsman never knows when a desperate client might turn violent, his job is usually routine, as I found out when Dennis Sew volunteered to show me the ropes. Dennis has been in the business for more than 20 years and in 2009 was named agent of the year by the Professional Bail Agents of the United States. Nevertheless, I was apprehensive as I drove to Baltimore early one morning to try my hand at bounty hunting.
When Dennis and I meet, he hands me a photo showing our first fugitive of the day. I’ll be honest. I was expecting to see a young African-American male. What can I say? It’s Baltimore and I’ve seen every episode of The Wire. But I’m surprised. Taken a few years ago in better times, the picture shows an attractive young woman, perhaps at her prom. She has long blond hair and bright eyes. She is smiling.
We drive to the house where a tip has placed her. It’s a middle-class home in a nice suburb. Children’s toys are strewn about the garden. I’m accompanied by Dennis and two of his coworkers—a former police officer and a former sheriff’s deputy. One of them takes the back while Dennis knocks. A woman still in her nightclothes answers. She does not seem surprised to have four men knocking at her door this early in the morning. She volunteers that we can search the house, and eventually we get the whole story from her.
“Chrissy,” our fugitive, is the woman’s niece. Chrissy was at the house two days before and may return. The once attractive young woman has had her life ruined by drugs. Or she has ruined her life with drugs—sometimes it’s hard to tell. She is now a heroin addict whose boyfriend regularly beats her. The aunt is momentarily shocked when we show her the photo. No, she doesn’t look like that anymore—her hair is brown, her face is covered with scabs and usually bruised, and she weighs maybe 85 pounds. “Be gentle with her,” the aunt says, even though, she predicts, “she will probably fight.”
The aunt gives us another location to scout: a parking lot where Chrissy and her mother are supposedly living out of a car. We are about to leave when the aunt thanks us for being quiet, because there’s a child in the house who was scared the last time the police came by. The child is Chrissy’s son. We drive to the location and look for the car. Dennis and his deputies see what looks like the vehicle and knock on one of the dirty windows, peering intently into the interior. The car is empty. Dennis and his deputies will return later.
What it takes to be a successful bounty hunter is mostly persistence and politeness. On most days your leads don’t pay off, so you need to visit and revisit the fugitive’s home, work, and favorite hangouts. Waiting is a big part of the game. Why politeness? Well, where do the leads come from? From people like Chrissy’s aunt—relatives and friends who might not talk to the police but who will respond to a kind word. Bounty hunters are polite even to the fugitives who, after all, are also their customers, and sadly, bounty hunters rely a lot on repeat business. One customer of a firm owned by the same family that runs the one Dennis works for told him proudly, “My family and I have been coming to Frank’s Bail Bonds for three generations.”
Most fugitives don’t fight, and Dennis is eager to avoid confrontation. Cowboys don’t last long in this business. Most bounty hunters have a working relationship with police officers and will sometimes call on them to make the arrest once a fugitive has been located.
A bounty hunter also benefits from being prepared. A typical application for a bond, for example, requires information about the defendant’s residence, employer, former employer, spouse, children (along with their names and schools), spouse’s employer, mother, father, automobile (including description, tags, and financing), union membership, previous arrests, and so forth. In addition, bond dealers need access to all kinds of public and private databases. Noted bounty hunter Bob Burton says that a list of friends who work at the telephone, gas, or electric utility, the post office, welfare agencies, and in law enforcement is a major asset. Today, familiarity with the Internet and computer databases is a must.
Good bond dealers master the tricks of their trade. The first three digits of a Social Security number, for example, indicate the state where the number was issued. This information can suggest that an applicant might be lying if he claims to have been born elsewhere, and it may provide a clue about where a skipped defendant has family or friends.
If at all possible, bail bondsmen get a friend or family member to cosign the bond. The reason is simple. A defendant whose bond is cosigned is less likely to flee. As Dennis told me, “In my line of work, I deal with some mean people, people who aren’t afraid of me or the police. But even the mean ones are afraid of their mom, so if I can get Mom to list her house as collateral, I know the defendant is much more likely to show up when he is supposed to.” A defendant whose bond is cosigned is also more likely to be caught if he does flee, because the bondsman will remind the cosigner that if the fugitive can’t be found, it’s not just the bondsman who will be left holding the bag.
Bounty hunters have robust rights to arrest fugitives. They can, for example, lawfully break into a suspect’s home without a warrant, pursue and recover fugitives across state lines without necessity of extradition proceedings, and search and seize without the constraint of the Fourth Amendment’s “reasonableness” requirement. Just like everyone else, however, bounty hunters must obey the criminal statutes. A bounty hunter who uses unreasonable force or mistakenly enters the home of someone who is not a bail jumper is subject to criminal prosecution.
The prerogatives of bounty hunters flow from the historical evolution of bail. Bail began in medieval England as a progressive measure to help defendants get out of jail while they waited, sometimes for many months, for a roving judge to show up to conduct a trial. If the local sheriff knew the accused, he might release him on the defendant’s promise to return for the hearing. More often, however, the sheriff would release the accused to the custody of a surety, usually a brother or friend, who guaranteed that the defendant would present himself when the time came. So, in the common law, custody of the accused was never relinquished but instead was transferred to the surety—the brother became the keeper—which explains the origin of the strong rights bail bondsmen have to pursue and capture escaped defendants. Initially, the surety’s guarantee to the sheriff was simple: If the accused failed to show, the surety would take his place and be judged as if he were the offender.
The English system provided lots of incentives for sureties to make certain that the accused showed up for trial, but not a lot of incentive to be a surety. The risk to sureties was lessened when courts began to accept pledges of cash rather than of one’s person, but the system was not perfected until personal surety was slowly replaced by a commercial surety system in the United States. That system put incentives on both sides of the equation. Bondsmen had an incentive both to bail defendants out of jail and to chase them down should they flee. By the end of the 19th century, commercial sureties were the norm in the United States. (The Philippines is the only other country with a similar system.)
Bail was widely admired as a progressive institution when the alternative was jail, but in the 1950s and ’60s many judges and law professors began to think that the alternative to bail should be release on a defendant’s own recognizance. Bail looked increasingly like a conservative institution that kept people, especially poor people, in jail. Many opinion makers came to support the creation of pretrial services agencies that would investigate defendants and recommend to judges whether they could be safely released on their own recognizance. In essence, the agencies would replace the judgment of bail bondsmen with the judgment of a professional bureaucracy.
In the early 1960s, the Vera Institute of Justice’s Manhattan Bail Project in New York City began gathering information about local defendants’ community ties and residential and employment stability and summarizing it in a numerical scoring system that it used to identify those who could be recommended for release on their own recognizance. The experiment was successful. The failure-to-appear rate among felony defendants the project recommended for release was no higher than the rate among those released on bail. Largely on the basis of these results, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Federal Bail Reform Act of 1966, which created a presumption in favor of releasing defendants on their own recognizance.
Although the new law applied only to the federal courts, the states have widely emulated the reforms. Every state now has some kind of pretrial services program, and four (Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, and Wisconsin) have outlawed commercial bail altogether. In its place, Illinois introduced the government bail or “deposit bond” system. The defendant is required to deposit with the court a small percentage of the face value of the bond. If the defendant fails to appear, he may lose the deposit and be held liable for the full value of the bond. But while a defendant in a commercial bail system who shows up in court must still pay the bondsman a fee, those who do so in jurisdictions with systems like Illinois’s get all their money back (less a small service fee in some cases). And the only people empowered to chase down a defendant who has fled are the police.
The results of the Manhattan Bail Project seemed to support the position of progressives who argued that commercial bail was unnecessary. But all that the findings really demonstrated was that a few carefully selected felony defendants could be safely released on their own recognizance. In reality, the project allowed relatively few defendants to be let go and so could easily cherry pick those who were most likely to appear at trial. As pretrial release programs expanded in the late 1960s and early ’70s, failure-to-appear rates increased.
Today, when a defendant fails to appear, an arrest warrant is issued. But if the defendant was released on his own recognizance or on government bail, very little else happens. In many states and cities, the police are overwhelmed with outstanding arrest warrants. In California, about two million warrants have gone unserved. Many are for minor offenses, but hundreds of thousands are for felonies, including thousands of homicides.
In Philadelphia, where commercial bail has been regulated out of existence, The Philadelphia Inquirer recently found that “fugitives jump bail . . . with virtual impunity.” At the end of 2009, the City of Brotherly Love had more than 47,000 unserved arrest warrants. About the only time the city’s bail jumpers are recaptured is when they are arrested for some other crime. One would expect that a criminal on the lam would be careful not to get caught speeding, but foresight is rarely a prominent characteristic of bail jumpers. Routine stops ensnare more than a few of them. When the jails are crowded, however, even serial bail jumpers are often released.
The backlog of unserved warrants has become so bad that Philadelphia and many other cities with similar systems, including Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, and Phoenix, have held “safe surrender” days when fugitives are promised leniency if they turn themselves in at a local church or other neutral location. (Some safe surrender programs even advertise on-site child care.) That’s good for the fugitives, but for victims of crime, both past and future, justice delayed is justice denied.
Unserved warrants tend not to pile up in jurisdictions with commercial bondsmen. In those places, the bail bond agent is on the hook for the bond and thus has a strong incentive to bring those who jump bail to justice. My interest in commercial bail and bounty hunting began when economist Eric Helland and I used data on 36,231 felony defendants released between 1988 and 1996 to investigate the differences between the public and private systems of bail and fugitive recovery. Our study, published in TheJournal of Law and Economics in 2004, is the largest and most comprehensive ever written on the bail system.
Our research backs up what I found on the street: Bail bondsmen and bounty hunters get their charges to show up for trial, and they recapture them quickly when they do flee. Nationally, the failure-to-appear rate for defendants released on commercial bail is 28 percent lower than the rate for defendants released on their own recognizance, and 18 percent lower than the rate for those released on government bond.
Even more important, when a defendant does skip town, the bounty hunters are the ones who pursue justice with the greatest determination and energy. Defendants sought by bounty hunters are a whopping 50 percent less likely to be on the loose after one year than other bail jumpers.
In addition to being effective, bail bondsmen and bounty hunters work at no cost to the taxpayers. The public reaps a double benefit, because when a bounty hunter fails to find his man, the bond is forfeit to the government. Because billions of dollars of bail are written every year and not every fugitive is caught, bond forfeits are a small but welcome source of revenue. At the federal level, forfeits help fund the Crime Victim Fund, which does what its name suggests, and in states such as Virginia and North Carolina they yield millions of dollars for public schools. Indeed, budget shortfalls around the nation are leading to a reconsideration of commercial bail. Oregon, which banned commercial bail in 1974, is considering a controversial bill to reinstate it, and even Illinois, nearly 50 years after establishing its alternative system, may once again allow bail bondsmen.
Bail bondsmen monitor defendants, guide them through the court process, and help them show up for trial. When defendants skip town, it’s the bounty hunters who track them down. But despite the benefits of commercial bail, bondsmen and bounty hunters don’t get a lot of thanks. The American Bar Association has said that the commercial bail business is “tawdry,” and Supreme Court justice Harry Blackmun once called it “odorous.” After Dog Chapman arrested the serial rapist Andrew Luster and delivered him to the Mexican police, Dog was the one who ended up in jail. Bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, and Chapman was charged with kidnapping despite the fact that (according to him) he had a local police officer with him at the time of the arrest. It surely didn’t help Chapman’s case that he was not trying to recover a bond that he had posted, since Luster had put up his own money. Luster was quickly extradited by the FBI, which offered Chapman no gratitude or assistance with the Mexican authorities. As if to rub salt in the wound, the judge in the Luster case refused even to reimburse Chapman for his expenses out of the $1 million Luster had forfeited.
Dog Chapman’s television show has brought him and the bail bond industry plenty of fame and notoriety, but Chapman is a controversial figure among bondsmen. The famed bounty hunter’s checkered history includes prison time, drug abuse, and charges of racism, and many bondsmen think that “Dog” doesn’t do much for their image. Bondsmen don’t want to be the dogs of criminal justice; they want to be recognized as professionals working alongside police, lawyers, and judges. They are tired of being called “odorous.” Bounty hunters want some respect. The record shows that they’ve earned it.
Full text article PDF available here.
by Alex Tabarrok
The Wilson Quarterely
Andrew Luster had it all: a multimillion-dollar trust fund, good looks, and a bachelor pad just off the beach in Mussel Shoals, California. Luster, the great-grandson of cosmetics legend Max Factor, spent his days surfing and his nights cruising the clubs. His life would have been sad but unremarkable if he had not had a fetish for sex with unconscious women. When one woman alleged rape, Luster claimed mutual consent, but the videotapes the police discovered when they searched his home told a different story. Eventually, more than 10 women came forward, and he was convicted of 20 counts of rape and sentenced to 124 years in prison. There was only one problem. Luster could not be found.
Shortly before he was expected to take the stand, Luster withdrew funds from his brokerage accounts, found a caretaker for his dog, and skipped town on a $1 million bail bond. The FBI put Luster on its most-wanted list, but months passed with no results. In the end, the authorities did not find him. But Luster was brought to justice—by a dog (or at least a man who goes by that name). Duane Chapman, star of the A&E reality TV show Dog: The Bounty Hunter, tracked Luster for months. He picked up clues to Luster’s whereabouts from old phone bills and from Luster’s mother, who inadvertently revealed that her son spoke fluent Spanish. He also gleaned useful information from a mysterious Mr. X who taunted him by e-mail and who may have been Luster himself. Finally, a tip from someone who had seen Dog on television brought Chapman to a small town in Mexico known for its great surfing. Days later, he and his team spotted Luster at a taco stand, apprehended him, and turned him over to the local police.
Most people don’t realize how many fugitives from the law there are. About one-quarter of all felony defendants fail to show up on the day of their trial. Some of these absences are due to forgetfulness, hospitalization, or even imprisonment on another charge. But like Luster, many felony defendants skip court with willful intent. The police are charged with recapturing these fugitives, but some of them are chased by an even more tireless pursuer, the bounty hunter.
Bounty hunters and bail bondsmen play an important but unsung role in a legal system whose court dockets are too crowded to provide swift justice. When a suspect is arrested, a judge must make a decision: set the suspect free on his own recognizance until the court is ready to proceed, hold the suspect in jail, or release the accused on the condition that he post a bail bond. A bond is a promise backed by incentive. If the suspect shows up on the trial date, he gets his money back; but if he fails to show, the money is forfeited. We don’t want to deprive the innocent of their liberty, but we also don’t want to give the guilty too much of a head start on their escape. Bail bonds don’t solve this problem completely, but they do give judges an additional tool to help them navigate the dilemma.
Bail might be a rich man’s privilege were it not for the bail bondsman. (Many bondsmen are women, but “bondsperson” doesn’t have quite the same ring, so I’ll use the standard terminology.) In return for a non-refundable fee, usually around 10 percent of the bond, a bondsman will put up his own money with the court. A typical bond might run $6,000. If the defendant shows up, the bondsman earns $600. But if the defendant flees, the bondsman potentially can forfeit $6,000. Potentially, because when a fugitive fails to appear, the court gives the bondsman a notice that essentially says, “Bring your charge to justice soon or your money is mine.” A bondsman typically has 90 to 180 days to bring a fugitive back to justice, so when a defendant jumps bail, the bondsman lets the dogs loose.
Actually, that last image suggesting a massive manhunt is misleading. Bail bond firms are often small, family-run businesses—the wife writes the bonds and the husband, the “bounty hunter,” searches for clients who fail to show up in court. Although a bondsman never knows when a desperate client might turn violent, his job is usually routine, as I found out when Dennis Sew volunteered to show me the ropes. Dennis has been in the business for more than 20 years and in 2009 was named agent of the year by the Professional Bail Agents of the United States. Nevertheless, I was apprehensive as I drove to Baltimore early one morning to try my hand at bounty hunting.
When Dennis and I meet, he hands me a photo showing our first fugitive of the day. I’ll be honest. I was expecting to see a young African-American male. What can I say? It’s Baltimore and I’ve seen every episode of The Wire. But I’m surprised. Taken a few years ago in better times, the picture shows an attractive young woman, perhaps at her prom. She has long blond hair and bright eyes. She is smiling.
We drive to the house where a tip has placed her. It’s a middle-class home in a nice suburb. Children’s toys are strewn about the garden. I’m accompanied by Dennis and two of his coworkers—a former police officer and a former sheriff’s deputy. One of them takes the back while Dennis knocks. A woman still in her nightclothes answers. She does not seem surprised to have four men knocking at her door this early in the morning. She volunteers that we can search the house, and eventually we get the whole story from her.
“Chrissy,” our fugitive, is the woman’s niece. Chrissy was at the house two days before and may return. The once attractive young woman has had her life ruined by drugs. Or she has ruined her life with drugs—sometimes it’s hard to tell. She is now a heroin addict whose boyfriend regularly beats her. The aunt is momentarily shocked when we show her the photo. No, she doesn’t look like that anymore—her hair is brown, her face is covered with scabs and usually bruised, and she weighs maybe 85 pounds. “Be gentle with her,” the aunt says, even though, she predicts, “she will probably fight.”
The aunt gives us another location to scout: a parking lot where Chrissy and her mother are supposedly living out of a car. We are about to leave when the aunt thanks us for being quiet, because there’s a child in the house who was scared the last time the police came by. The child is Chrissy’s son. We drive to the location and look for the car. Dennis and his deputies see what looks like the vehicle and knock on one of the dirty windows, peering intently into the interior. The car is empty. Dennis and his deputies will return later.
What it takes to be a successful bounty hunter is mostly persistence and politeness. On most days your leads don’t pay off, so you need to visit and revisit the fugitive’s home, work, and favorite hangouts. Waiting is a big part of the game. Why politeness? Well, where do the leads come from? From people like Chrissy’s aunt—relatives and friends who might not talk to the police but who will respond to a kind word. Bounty hunters are polite even to the fugitives who, after all, are also their customers, and sadly, bounty hunters rely a lot on repeat business. One customer of a firm owned by the same family that runs the one Dennis works for told him proudly, “My family and I have been coming to Frank’s Bail Bonds for three generations.”
Most fugitives don’t fight, and Dennis is eager to avoid confrontation. Cowboys don’t last long in this business. Most bounty hunters have a working relationship with police officers and will sometimes call on them to make the arrest once a fugitive has been located.
A bounty hunter also benefits from being prepared. A typical application for a bond, for example, requires information about the defendant’s residence, employer, former employer, spouse, children (along with their names and schools), spouse’s employer, mother, father, automobile (including description, tags, and financing), union membership, previous arrests, and so forth. In addition, bond dealers need access to all kinds of public and private databases. Noted bounty hunter Bob Burton says that a list of friends who work at the telephone, gas, or electric utility, the post office, welfare agencies, and in law enforcement is a major asset. Today, familiarity with the Internet and computer databases is a must.
Good bond dealers master the tricks of their trade. The first three digits of a Social Security number, for example, indicate the state where the number was issued. This information can suggest that an applicant might be lying if he claims to have been born elsewhere, and it may provide a clue about where a skipped defendant has family or friends.
If at all possible, bail bondsmen get a friend or family member to cosign the bond. The reason is simple. A defendant whose bond is cosigned is less likely to flee. As Dennis told me, “In my line of work, I deal with some mean people, people who aren’t afraid of me or the police. But even the mean ones are afraid of their mom, so if I can get Mom to list her house as collateral, I know the defendant is much more likely to show up when he is supposed to.” A defendant whose bond is cosigned is also more likely to be caught if he does flee, because the bondsman will remind the cosigner that if the fugitive can’t be found, it’s not just the bondsman who will be left holding the bag.
Bounty hunters have robust rights to arrest fugitives. They can, for example, lawfully break into a suspect’s home without a warrant, pursue and recover fugitives across state lines without necessity of extradition proceedings, and search and seize without the constraint of the Fourth Amendment’s “reasonableness” requirement. Just like everyone else, however, bounty hunters must obey the criminal statutes. A bounty hunter who uses unreasonable force or mistakenly enters the home of someone who is not a bail jumper is subject to criminal prosecution.
The prerogatives of bounty hunters flow from the historical evolution of bail. Bail began in medieval England as a progressive measure to help defendants get out of jail while they waited, sometimes for many months, for a roving judge to show up to conduct a trial. If the local sheriff knew the accused, he might release him on the defendant’s promise to return for the hearing. More often, however, the sheriff would release the accused to the custody of a surety, usually a brother or friend, who guaranteed that the defendant would present himself when the time came. So, in the common law, custody of the accused was never relinquished but instead was transferred to the surety—the brother became the keeper—which explains the origin of the strong rights bail bondsmen have to pursue and capture escaped defendants. Initially, the surety’s guarantee to the sheriff was simple: If the accused failed to show, the surety would take his place and be judged as if he were the offender.
The English system provided lots of incentives for sureties to make certain that the accused showed up for trial, but not a lot of incentive to be a surety. The risk to sureties was lessened when courts began to accept pledges of cash rather than of one’s person, but the system was not perfected until personal surety was slowly replaced by a commercial surety system in the United States. That system put incentives on both sides of the equation. Bondsmen had an incentive both to bail defendants out of jail and to chase them down should they flee. By the end of the 19th century, commercial sureties were the norm in the United States. (The Philippines is the only other country with a similar system.)
Bail was widely admired as a progressive institution when the alternative was jail, but in the 1950s and ’60s many judges and law professors began to think that the alternative to bail should be release on a defendant’s own recognizance. Bail looked increasingly like a conservative institution that kept people, especially poor people, in jail. Many opinion makers came to support the creation of pretrial services agencies that would investigate defendants and recommend to judges whether they could be safely released on their own recognizance. In essence, the agencies would replace the judgment of bail bondsmen with the judgment of a professional bureaucracy.
In the early 1960s, the Vera Institute of Justice’s Manhattan Bail Project in New York City began gathering information about local defendants’ community ties and residential and employment stability and summarizing it in a numerical scoring system that it used to identify those who could be recommended for release on their own recognizance. The experiment was successful. The failure-to-appear rate among felony defendants the project recommended for release was no higher than the rate among those released on bail. Largely on the basis of these results, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Federal Bail Reform Act of 1966, which created a presumption in favor of releasing defendants on their own recognizance.
Although the new law applied only to the federal courts, the states have widely emulated the reforms. Every state now has some kind of pretrial services program, and four (Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, and Wisconsin) have outlawed commercial bail altogether. In its place, Illinois introduced the government bail or “deposit bond” system. The defendant is required to deposit with the court a small percentage of the face value of the bond. If the defendant fails to appear, he may lose the deposit and be held liable for the full value of the bond. But while a defendant in a commercial bail system who shows up in court must still pay the bondsman a fee, those who do so in jurisdictions with systems like Illinois’s get all their money back (less a small service fee in some cases). And the only people empowered to chase down a defendant who has fled are the police.
The results of the Manhattan Bail Project seemed to support the position of progressives who argued that commercial bail was unnecessary. But all that the findings really demonstrated was that a few carefully selected felony defendants could be safely released on their own recognizance. In reality, the project allowed relatively few defendants to be let go and so could easily cherry pick those who were most likely to appear at trial. As pretrial release programs expanded in the late 1960s and early ’70s, failure-to-appear rates increased.
Today, when a defendant fails to appear, an arrest warrant is issued. But if the defendant was released on his own recognizance or on government bail, very little else happens. In many states and cities, the police are overwhelmed with outstanding arrest warrants. In California, about two million warrants have gone unserved. Many are for minor offenses, but hundreds of thousands are for felonies, including thousands of homicides.
In Philadelphia, where commercial bail has been regulated out of existence, The Philadelphia Inquirer recently found that “fugitives jump bail . . . with virtual impunity.” At the end of 2009, the City of Brotherly Love had more than 47,000 unserved arrest warrants. About the only time the city’s bail jumpers are recaptured is when they are arrested for some other crime. One would expect that a criminal on the lam would be careful not to get caught speeding, but foresight is rarely a prominent characteristic of bail jumpers. Routine stops ensnare more than a few of them. When the jails are crowded, however, even serial bail jumpers are often released.
The backlog of unserved warrants has become so bad that Philadelphia and many other cities with similar systems, including Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, and Phoenix, have held “safe surrender” days when fugitives are promised leniency if they turn themselves in at a local church or other neutral location. (Some safe surrender programs even advertise on-site child care.) That’s good for the fugitives, but for victims of crime, both past and future, justice delayed is justice denied.
Unserved warrants tend not to pile up in jurisdictions with commercial bondsmen. In those places, the bail bond agent is on the hook for the bond and thus has a strong incentive to bring those who jump bail to justice. My interest in commercial bail and bounty hunting began when economist Eric Helland and I used data on 36,231 felony defendants released between 1988 and 1996 to investigate the differences between the public and private systems of bail and fugitive recovery. Our study, published in TheJournal of Law and Economics in 2004, is the largest and most comprehensive ever written on the bail system.
Our research backs up what I found on the street: Bail bondsmen and bounty hunters get their charges to show up for trial, and they recapture them quickly when they do flee. Nationally, the failure-to-appear rate for defendants released on commercial bail is 28 percent lower than the rate for defendants released on their own recognizance, and 18 percent lower than the rate for those released on government bond.
Even more important, when a defendant does skip town, the bounty hunters are the ones who pursue justice with the greatest determination and energy. Defendants sought by bounty hunters are a whopping 50 percent less likely to be on the loose after one year than other bail jumpers.
In addition to being effective, bail bondsmen and bounty hunters work at no cost to the taxpayers. The public reaps a double benefit, because when a bounty hunter fails to find his man, the bond is forfeit to the government. Because billions of dollars of bail are written every year and not every fugitive is caught, bond forfeits are a small but welcome source of revenue. At the federal level, forfeits help fund the Crime Victim Fund, which does what its name suggests, and in states such as Virginia and North Carolina they yield millions of dollars for public schools. Indeed, budget shortfalls around the nation are leading to a reconsideration of commercial bail. Oregon, which banned commercial bail in 1974, is considering a controversial bill to reinstate it, and even Illinois, nearly 50 years after establishing its alternative system, may once again allow bail bondsmen.
Bail bondsmen monitor defendants, guide them through the court process, and help them show up for trial. When defendants skip town, it’s the bounty hunters who track them down. But despite the benefits of commercial bail, bondsmen and bounty hunters don’t get a lot of thanks. The American Bar Association has said that the commercial bail business is “tawdry,” and Supreme Court justice Harry Blackmun once called it “odorous.” After Dog Chapman arrested the serial rapist Andrew Luster and delivered him to the Mexican police, Dog was the one who ended up in jail. Bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, and Chapman was charged with kidnapping despite the fact that (according to him) he had a local police officer with him at the time of the arrest. It surely didn’t help Chapman’s case that he was not trying to recover a bond that he had posted, since Luster had put up his own money. Luster was quickly extradited by the FBI, which offered Chapman no gratitude or assistance with the Mexican authorities. As if to rub salt in the wound, the judge in the Luster case refused even to reimburse Chapman for his expenses out of the $1 million Luster had forfeited.
Dog Chapman’s television show has brought him and the bail bond industry plenty of fame and notoriety, but Chapman is a controversial figure among bondsmen. The famed bounty hunter’s checkered history includes prison time, drug abuse, and charges of racism, and many bondsmen think that “Dog” doesn’t do much for their image. Bondsmen don’t want to be the dogs of criminal justice; they want to be recognized as professionals working alongside police, lawyers, and judges. They are tired of being called “odorous.” Bounty hunters want some respect. The record shows that they’ve earned it.
Full text article PDF available here.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Morgans Point, TX
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is the largest sheriff's office in Texas and the third largest in the United States. Our more than 4,000 employees are committed to the safety of the nearly 4 million residents who call Harris County home.
Harris County Sheriff's Office:
1200 Baker St.
Houston, TX 77002
Visiting an inmate incarcerated in one of the Harris County Sheriffs office jails?
Office jails located in downtown Houston begins by entering the main lobby of the jail the inmate is assigned to, whether at the:
1200 Baker Street Jail
1307 Baker Street Jail
701 N. San Jacinto Street Jail
711 N. San Jacinto Jail.
Visitation requests are accepted at all jail facilities:
Monday through Friday: 5:00 PM-8:40 PM
Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 8:00 AM-10:40 AM and 5:00 PM-8:40 PM
Inmates are only allowed one visit per day.
Attorneys may visit any jail location 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
No ministers visits will be allowed at any jail location from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM daily.
Visits to inmates at hospitals must be Pre-approved by personnel at the Medical Division, phone number 713.755.9205
If you are unsure of the inmate's location, each facility has book in the Visitation Information area of the lobby that will advise what jail and where in the facility the inmate is located. All jails are located within one block of each other.
Do you need a bail bond in Morgans Point, Texas?
Cash Bond
Cash bonds may be posted at the bonding window located on the first floor of the 49 North San Jacinto Building. You may post a cash bond by paying the full amount of the bond in cash, cashier's check, or money order.
Surety Bonds
You may post a surety bond with a bonding company, such as AIA. The bonding company, such as any company that is part of the ExpertBail Network, will then post the bond for you. The bonding company will charge you a fee for this service.
Harris County Sheriff's Office:
1200 Baker St.
Houston, TX 77002
Visiting an inmate incarcerated in one of the Harris County Sheriffs office jails?
Office jails located in downtown Houston begins by entering the main lobby of the jail the inmate is assigned to, whether at the:
1200 Baker Street Jail
1307 Baker Street Jail
701 N. San Jacinto Street Jail
711 N. San Jacinto Jail.
Visitation requests are accepted at all jail facilities:
Monday through Friday: 5:00 PM-8:40 PM
Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 8:00 AM-10:40 AM and 5:00 PM-8:40 PM
Inmates are only allowed one visit per day.
Attorneys may visit any jail location 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
No ministers visits will be allowed at any jail location from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM daily.
Visits to inmates at hospitals must be Pre-approved by personnel at the Medical Division, phone number 713.755.9205
If you are unsure of the inmate's location, each facility has book in the Visitation Information area of the lobby that will advise what jail and where in the facility the inmate is located. All jails are located within one block of each other.
Do you need a bail bond in Morgans Point, Texas?
Cash Bond
Cash bonds may be posted at the bonding window located on the first floor of the 49 North San Jacinto Building. You may post a cash bond by paying the full amount of the bond in cash, cashier's check, or money order.
Surety Bonds
You may post a surety bond with a bonding company, such as AIA. The bonding company, such as any company that is part of the ExpertBail Network, will then post the bond for you. The bonding company will charge you a fee for this service.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and the second most populous in the United States, with 3.8 million people. Read more if you are in need of a bail bondsman or locating a nearby jail in L.A., CA.
Men's Central Jail
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Bus. Phone: 213-974-4916
Inmate Information: 213-473-6100
Visiting: Thursday through Sunday; 10am - 3pm and 5 pm - 7pm
General mail address for all inmates is as follows:
Inmate Name, Booking Number
PO BOX 86164
Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Men's Central Jail is committed to providing the public with a safe, secure and pleasant environment where inmate visits are conducted in compliance with applicable laws and facility policies. Please call the Inmate Information Center at (213) 473-6100 prior to your arrival at Men's Central Jail to determine if the inmate you intend to visit is allowed a visit and if there are any special restrictions on their visiting privilege. Generally if an inmate is attending court on any given day they will not be allowed a visit for that day.
When a person is arrested, he or she may have the opportunity to pay bail. This is a payment that the arrested person may be able to make to the court in order to leave jail until trial. The payment is a way that the court can help ensure that the accused will appear at any future court dates. In some cases, the amount of bail may be more than the accused can pay by him or herself. In these cases, bail bonds may be useful since they allow people to pay some percentage of their bail — often 10% — with a bail bonding agency putting up the rest.
If you are in need of a trustworthy and professional bail bond agent in Los Angeles, CA, call ExpertBail at 800.938.2245. The ExpertBail Network is comprised of a family of the most experienced and highest quality bail agents in the industry
Men's Central Jail
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Bus. Phone: 213-974-4916
Inmate Information: 213-473-6100
Visiting: Thursday through Sunday; 10am - 3pm and 5 pm - 7pm
General mail address for all inmates is as follows:
Inmate Name, Booking Number
PO BOX 86164
Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Men's Central Jail is committed to providing the public with a safe, secure and pleasant environment where inmate visits are conducted in compliance with applicable laws and facility policies. Please call the Inmate Information Center at (213) 473-6100 prior to your arrival at Men's Central Jail to determine if the inmate you intend to visit is allowed a visit and if there are any special restrictions on their visiting privilege. Generally if an inmate is attending court on any given day they will not be allowed a visit for that day.
When a person is arrested, he or she may have the opportunity to pay bail. This is a payment that the arrested person may be able to make to the court in order to leave jail until trial. The payment is a way that the court can help ensure that the accused will appear at any future court dates. In some cases, the amount of bail may be more than the accused can pay by him or herself. In these cases, bail bonds may be useful since they allow people to pay some percentage of their bail — often 10% — with a bail bonding agency putting up the rest.
If you are in need of a trustworthy and professional bail bond agent in Los Angeles, CA, call ExpertBail at 800.938.2245. The ExpertBail Network is comprised of a family of the most experienced and highest quality bail agents in the industry
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Atlantic County, New Jersey
The Gerard L. Gormley Justice Facility in Atlantic County, New Jersey opened in 1985 and was built to house 398 inmates. Since that time, the facility has undergone substantial growth and expansion. It now houses an average 1000 inmates with custody jurisdiction over an additional 250 inmates who are sentenced to various community programs. The Facility has two main sections, the Main Jail Building and the Main Jail Annex.
A nationally recognized leader in county correctional facilities, the Atlantic County Department of Public Safety is charged with the operation of the Justice Facility. The New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts has recognized the Justice Facility's inmate classification program by incorporating it into their statewide computer system for use by all associated counties in New Jersey. In October, 1997, the Justice Facility opened its own Correction Officers Academy, certified by the New Jersey Police Training Commission, and graduating its first class in January 1998. The Academy training at the Canale Training Center trains all Atlantic County Correction Officers and will accept trainees from other New Jersey Counties.
THE ATLANTIC COUNTY GERARD L. GORMLEY JUSTICE FACILITY
5060 Atlantic Avenue
Mays Landing, NJ
Main Telephone Number - (609) 645-5855
Bail Bond Agent Information:
Is someone you know in trouble and in need of a bail bond in Atlantic County, New Jersey? Follow the link to find a trusted bail bond agent.
Click on the following link for jail information, such as: visiting hours, requirements, phone numbers and more.
A nationally recognized leader in county correctional facilities, the Atlantic County Department of Public Safety is charged with the operation of the Justice Facility. The New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts has recognized the Justice Facility's inmate classification program by incorporating it into their statewide computer system for use by all associated counties in New Jersey. In October, 1997, the Justice Facility opened its own Correction Officers Academy, certified by the New Jersey Police Training Commission, and graduating its first class in January 1998. The Academy training at the Canale Training Center trains all Atlantic County Correction Officers and will accept trainees from other New Jersey Counties.
THE ATLANTIC COUNTY GERARD L. GORMLEY JUSTICE FACILITY
5060 Atlantic Avenue
Mays Landing, NJ
Main Telephone Number - (609) 645-5855
Bail Bond Agent Information:
Is someone you know in trouble and in need of a bail bond in Atlantic County, New Jersey? Follow the link to find a trusted bail bond agent.
Click on the following link for jail information, such as: visiting hours, requirements, phone numbers and more.
What is a Bounty Hunter?
A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward. A bounty hunter is also known as a bail enforcement agent, fugitive recovery agent, skip tracer, and bail fugitive investigator. Bounty hunters are often hired by bail agents to locate, arrest, and return the fugitive to the jurisdiction of the court. Bounty hunters must be properly licensed according to the laws of each state.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Belknap County, New Hampshire
Located just southeast of the geographic center of the state in New Hampshire's Lakes Region, Belknap County was established in 1840 from portions of Strafford County. The Belknap County Jail staff consists of a Superintendent, Captain, three Sergeants and twenty uniformed officers. Other staff includes an administrative assistant, two full time and one part time nurse, one full time maintenance staff, the Programs Director and the Community Corrections Officer.
Belknap County, New Hampshire County Jail
Superintendent: Daniel P.Ward Sr.
Deputy Superintendent: David Berry
Belknap County Department of Corrections
76 County Drive
Laconia, NH 03246
603-527-5480
Fax: 603-527-5489
The physical plant is a mix of structures dating back to the 1860's. Renovations were made to the original cellblock in 1947, the House of Corrections was added in 1971, the Annex in 1979 and the newest and largest addition was completed in 1989. Historically, we have been attached, figuratively and literally, to the County Nursing Home and continue to derive food and laundry services from them.
Under State statue to ensure their appearance in court, the DOC houses all pre-trial inmates within the County charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses that are unable to make bail. We also house inmates that have been sentenced to a year or less, also for misdemeanor and felony offenses.
At maximum capacity, the facility can care for 110 inmates in housing areas we call "pods". There are several pods of varying sizes within the building and a Classification Officer determines initial housing assignments. The Classification Officer uses a number of factors to determine classification status, i.e: charges, pre-trial or sentenced, criminal history, history with the DOC, co-defendent issues and a host of other factors. There are three main classification categories: Minimum Security, Medium Security and Maximum Security, each with their own sub-category of special needs. Each week, a classification board, made up of the Lieutenant , the Programs Director and the Classification Officer reviews each new initial classification, interviews the inmate and makes modifications in classification status and housing assignment if necessary. The board also reviews all inmate classifications periodically, as well as after any disciplinary action.
If you are looking for a bail bond agent in Belknap County, New Hampshire, go to http://www.expertbail.com/. Just select the location where you need to have a bail agent help release your friend or loved one from jail. Then select a professional and trustworthy licensed bail bond agent from the list.
The Mission of the Belknap County of Corrections is to provide protection of society through the detention and confinement of pre-trial detainees and post-trial confines in a safe and secure condition. The Belknap County Department of Corrections will provide humane treatment of the offenders during their time of confinement. This will be accomplished by, complying with Constitutional Requirements, Correctional Standards, as well as providing physical and mental heath services and an opportunity for educational, religious, and recreational services.
It is the goal of the Belknap County Department of Corrections, through proper care from the staff, the offenders will leave no worse and possibly better then when he or she arrived at the facility. Care will be taken to insure positive growth and re-integration into the community upon their release.
Belknap County Department of Corrections is an All Non-Contact Visiting Facility.
Maximum Security
Monday Night: 5 pm to 6 pm
Saturday Morning: 9 am to 10 am
Medium Security
Tuesday Night: 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Saturday Afternoon: 12 pm to 2:30 pm
Minimum Security
Wednesday Evening 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Sunday Afternoon: 12 pm to 2:30 pm
All Female Visits
Thursday Night: 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Sunday Morning: 9 am to 10:30 am
Belknap County, New Hampshire County Jail
Superintendent: Daniel P.Ward Sr.
Deputy Superintendent: David Berry
Belknap County Department of Corrections
76 County Drive
Laconia, NH 03246
603-527-5480
Fax: 603-527-5489
The physical plant is a mix of structures dating back to the 1860's. Renovations were made to the original cellblock in 1947, the House of Corrections was added in 1971, the Annex in 1979 and the newest and largest addition was completed in 1989. Historically, we have been attached, figuratively and literally, to the County Nursing Home and continue to derive food and laundry services from them.
Under State statue to ensure their appearance in court, the DOC houses all pre-trial inmates within the County charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses that are unable to make bail. We also house inmates that have been sentenced to a year or less, also for misdemeanor and felony offenses.
At maximum capacity, the facility can care for 110 inmates in housing areas we call "pods". There are several pods of varying sizes within the building and a Classification Officer determines initial housing assignments. The Classification Officer uses a number of factors to determine classification status, i.e: charges, pre-trial or sentenced, criminal history, history with the DOC, co-defendent issues and a host of other factors. There are three main classification categories: Minimum Security, Medium Security and Maximum Security, each with their own sub-category of special needs. Each week, a classification board, made up of the Lieutenant , the Programs Director and the Classification Officer reviews each new initial classification, interviews the inmate and makes modifications in classification status and housing assignment if necessary. The board also reviews all inmate classifications periodically, as well as after any disciplinary action.
If you are looking for a bail bond agent in Belknap County, New Hampshire, go to http://www.expertbail.com/. Just select the location where you need to have a bail agent help release your friend or loved one from jail. Then select a professional and trustworthy licensed bail bond agent from the list.
The Mission of the Belknap County of Corrections is to provide protection of society through the detention and confinement of pre-trial detainees and post-trial confines in a safe and secure condition. The Belknap County Department of Corrections will provide humane treatment of the offenders during their time of confinement. This will be accomplished by, complying with Constitutional Requirements, Correctional Standards, as well as providing physical and mental heath services and an opportunity for educational, religious, and recreational services.
It is the goal of the Belknap County Department of Corrections, through proper care from the staff, the offenders will leave no worse and possibly better then when he or she arrived at the facility. Care will be taken to insure positive growth and re-integration into the community upon their release.
Belknap County Department of Corrections is an All Non-Contact Visiting Facility.
Maximum Security
Monday Night: 5 pm to 6 pm
Saturday Morning: 9 am to 10 am
Medium Security
Tuesday Night: 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Saturday Afternoon: 12 pm to 2:30 pm
Minimum Security
Wednesday Evening 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Sunday Afternoon: 12 pm to 2:30 pm
All Female Visits
Thursday Night: 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Sunday Morning: 9 am to 10:30 am
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