Keep Bailing

As last year, California bail agents met at Lake Tahoe for the 2009 Annual Convention of the California Bail Agents (CBAA). Day one was Monday and included the usual State of the Association and PBUS National Updates.

Pretrial Release

Continuing Education Credit was offered to bondsmen who attended all required sessions, the first of which was an attorney presentation regarding Pre Trial Release presented by Ash Pirayou of Rutan & Tucker and a panel on Credit Card Bail. Pirayou reviewed current happenings in Pretrial Release (commonly known as Release on Own Recognizance or “OR“) in Santa Clara County. Pirayou said that Santa Clara County jailsare attempting to use pretrial release to relieve jail overcrowding and save money, but the bottom line numbers show a significantly different picture. He called on bail agents to help paint an accurate public picture.

Orange County Sheriff Candidate

Bondsmen were also addressed by Bill Hunt, candidate for Orange County Sheriff.  Hunt, who spent 22 years in the Orange County Read more »

In the first address to Los Angeles bail bondsmen since his election to City Attorney, Carmen “Nuch” Trutanich told a group assembled Sunday evening that the office he inherrited was “broken“. He added, “I was elected to clean up the office and I will.”

Trutanich gave only a brief prelude to what bondsmen would hear more about in the days to come at the Annual Meeting of the California Bail Agents Association (CBAA): “We are arresting bail agents for capping,” Trutanich told us.

Interestingly, he gave no real details to something of great importance to the California bail industry. Unethical bail agents operating illegally is a serious problem to those of us who run a clean business. I, for one, was very interested in the details.

He went on to Read more »

While I couldn’t stay awake long enough last night to get an official victory, out of the gate Carmen Trutanich was holding a lead on his opponent Jack Weiss. I was happy to find this morning that Los Angeles has a new City Attorney  who brings high hopes for changes in our criminal system – “Nuch” Trutanich.

As a bail bondsman, I see the City Attorney’s job in terms of Read more »

Bondsmen came from as far as San Diego to support Carmen Trutanich, who is running for Los Angeles City Attorney. Mr. Trutanich is seeking office for the first time.

Bail bondsmen have not often come together to support political candidates. So, why are we supporting Carmen Trutanich in his bid?

Photo: Greg & Tonya Rynerson, “Nuch” & Noreen Trutanich

Carmen Trutanich is running for Los Angeles City Attorney on the platform of crime fighter – something Read more »

A Lifetime of Experiences that Prepare Us

People often marvel that Greg and I work together. They want to know: how do you do that? I often think we aren’t different as working business partners from any husband and wife who go to different offices and have different careers. Any family can be an excellent example of spouses working together. Take Carmen and Noreen Trutanich. . .

I met the couple at the CBAA Annual Meeting and Noreen agreed to speak with me about how their family has balanced family, careers and now Nuch’s first-time political campaign. “It’s hard work, but I don’t mind the time and effort we’re all putting into the race because he’s the perfect person for the job,” Noreen told me. Read more »

‘Tis The Season

It’s that time of year: we get together and give. Southern California bail bondsmen have held two fundraisers in the last week: one supporting Carmen “Nuch” Trutanich in his bid for Los Angeles City Attorney and the other supporting three worthy charities.

Bondsmen from Orange County, the Inland Empire and Riverside County came together on Wednesday night for their annual holiday event to enjoy the season and to raise funds for the Debbie Chisholm Memorial Foundation, Special Olympics and the Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activities League (PAAL), which is supported by the Santa Ana Police Department. All three organizations do an outstanding job of working with and for young people to make a difference. Read more »

The California Bail Agents Association (CBAA) kicked off its 2008 Annual Convention last night in South Lake Tahoe at Harrah’s Casino Resort with an opening reception. The opening address was given by Curt Hagman, bondsman and Assemblyman-elect from the 60th District. Curt not only talked about introducing legislation necessary to protect the California consumers as related to bail, but implored bondsman to get involved in the political process. Mr. Hagman talked about bondsmen getting organized and united to make important donations to candidates and, importantly in my opinion, to educate legislators and other elected officials about the importance of the bail system in California and in the nation. Without bail, the important American tenant of innocence until guilt is proved simply does not exist.

Bail agents heard more along these lines on today when they heard from Carmen “Nuch” Trutanich, candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney who told bondsman that when he is in office, he will make it a priority to educate all attorneys on staff about the benefit of bail and the fact that bail agents provide an important service to the criminal justice system. Not only are bondsmen agents of the court, but quite literally Los Angeles cannot afford to house people during the pre-trial process. The cost, Trutanich indicated, to house an inmate in LA County jail is $200,000 a year. Read more »