Keep Bailing

If you read this blog, you know that bail ethics is a hot button for me. My family has been in the bail bond industry since 1969. I’m extremely concerned about a growing trend that I believe has reached critical mass in our industry. Permit me to further explain the problem:

Let’s say, a defendant is arrested. During the booking process the defendant’s information is entered into various jail computer databases. Unscrupulous bail agents will then “hack” into computer databases to get the names of the defendant sometimes within minutes of the inmate being booked. Armed with the illegally obtained defendant’s name, jail location and date of birth, these unscrupulous bail agents will then utilize investigative techniques to gather information about those associated with the defendant. These bail agents begin to illegally Read more »

Bail Bonds Are Surety Bonds: A Type of Insurance

When people hear that you’re a bail bondsman, they are always curious about the business. Last month, I blogged about what exactly is a bail bond. Once people understand that a bail bond is an insurance product, the next most obvious question is, “How is the underwriting of a bail bond different than the underwriting for typical insurance?” Comparing to an insurance you may have shopped for is probably the best way to understand the differences.

Let’s say, for example, you need fire insurance for your home, Read more »

Generally speaking, a surety bond is a contract whereby one party engages to be answerable for debt, default, or miscarriage of another. A surety bond involves three parties: Read more »

I just received a letter from Linda Braswell, PBUS President, regarding bounty hunter Leonard Padilla and the Casey Anthony bail. Ms. Braswell was commenting on the sad “carnival” atmosphere around the case and specifically Mr. Padilla’s comments regarding bail bondsmen. 

Ms. Braswell’s letter brought to mind a topic that is perhaps a hot button for me: ethics in the bail industry. The bail bond profession, perhaps more than most other professions, presents us with daily ethical and professional challenges. Doing the right thing is not always easy. At the end of the day, you have to be able to look in the mirror and like what you see. 

For example, I know most bail agents have been involved in bail transactions involving extremely large amounts of cash. The cash is sitting on the table in front of them: $5,000, maybe even $10,000 in cash.  They can smell the cash. They have mentally already begun spending the money. They are thinking about which pocket would be best suited for this big wad of cash. There is a huge adrenaline rush involved. All of a sudden, the indemnitor throws an ethical twist into the transaction that makes the entire deal illegal. What would you do? Read more »

Technology isn’t the only thing that’s changed since my father, Cal Rynerson, opened his Orange County bail bonds company in 1971. The Internet, fax machines, and cell phones have all changed how customers find us and how we do business. Another big change has been in how bail bondsman are trained and licensed.

Unlike 30 years ago, it’s now possible to wake up one morning, say: “Hey! I think I’ll become a bail bondsman!” and about 6 months later open your own company. Sometimes, the old ways really were better.

When Dad became a bondsman, he was required to complete what was called an apprenticeship with another licensed California bail agent. After learning the business and basically getting the approval of the licensed agent, the apprentice could get licensed and go out on his own. The licensed agent would invite an apprentice into the business and sponsor him.

My father worked with a bondsman named Pete Devitch. Pete is a bit of legend in the bail industry. I remember Pete as a colorful guy, full of great stories, who always carried around a wad of hundreds. Read more »