Keep Bailing

Bad economic news, apparently Bondsmen Are Bailing Out, at least according to the Indianapolis Star:

these days, too many clients are asking for bail without the required collateral, such as a home or a car, diminishing bail bondsmen’s customer base. And not helping matters is a new policy by Marion County judges setting less expensive cash bonds for minor offenses…

Couple the economic situation with other “solutions” being offered in terms of bail. I hear talk of temporily lowering the bail schedule to allow more people in California to post bail. Huh? The bail schedule is set by judges based on public safety and flight risk. Lower it?  

Add to this jail overcrowding causing manditory releases, out of control pre-trial release (known as release on ”own recognizance” which is intended for the indigent) and so-called “cash bail” on your credit card. 

“We wanted to make sure we are not setting our bonds so high that we are overcrowding our jail,” said Marion Superior Court Judge Robert Altice Jr. of Indiana. How about public safety?

Last December, I spoke with Tony Castro of the Los Angeles Daily News. He asked me how the bail business has changed in the downturned economy. My answer today would be much the same as then: people still need bail bonds. However, the willingness to pay $1000 or $5000 is definately restricted. In better economic times, people had jobs that they needed to go to, so they would bail out. In better economic times, spending money is easier.

All that said, is the bail industry going under? Well, I can only speak for this company and say, not yet! Treading water at times, maybe, but not going under. As an industry, however, bail agents need to stay aware of the climate. Bail is a right and bondsmen help maintain the system that is free to the taxpayers.