The hit Stephanie Plum book series by Evanovitch have created quite a stir. Her latest, Sizzling Sixteen, is already a New York Times best seller. Working for her cousin Vinnie at “Vincent Plum Bail Bonds”, Plum is less than realistic young bounty hunter, but is more than lovable in spunky, heroic way to Evanovitch’s following.

Katherine Heigl has pushed to see the character come to life on the big screen and she’s gotten her wish. Originally, Reese Witherspoon was slated to take on the role, but the production was on the back burner so long (since 1994) that the casting just didn’t happen.

Heigl, known for her role in Grey’s Anatomy will star as a bounty hunter in the making, and on the look-out for Joseph Morelli, a wanted cop. He also happens to be her “very first”.

Green-lit by Columbia Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment, the movie is sure to bring Stephanie Plum fans to the box office. Question is, will Katherine Heigl live up to the expectations of Stephanie Plum fans? We’ll have to wait and see.

I’m not sure people believe me when I tell them that a day in the life of a bail bondsman is not much different than most small business jobs — except perhaps answering the phone at all hours. I’m quite certain that people are disappointed to hear that bail bonding just isn’t particularly exciting. The people we bail out tend to be regular joe’s (or jane’s) who just happened to use bad judgement or be in the wrong situation.

I read a blog post by Adelita this weekend where she interviewed a female bail bondsman. I thought that she summed up bail bond clients well:

“… I asked about the type of clients she has and how she can remain neutral or not be judgmental. She says that it can be difficult and tries not to be cynical. Sometimes it is easy to get emotionally attached to some clients, and sometimes it is easy to get sucked into the drama of other clients. But she says that everyone has a story and everyone has different circumstances that get them into the situation they are in. She does her best not to pass judgment but usually she can sense when someone is guilty or not. She says that she feels compassion for those that have gotten in trouble, especially first timers. She reminds me that you are innocent until proven guilty and that not all people who have gotten in trouble with the law are bad people. Many first time offenders never have problems with the law again. Often these people are single mothers who have gotten in trouble and have no one to care for their children. Bonding someone out can allow them to possibly continue to work to support their families until their case is settled – a fact I never had even considered.”

 

I have to agree, sometimes you really feel for the defendant – often you feel for the indemnitor (the one who’s paying and signing the bond contract). We actually have very few repeat clients. I like to hope that people learn their lessons. I know the price they pay is much higher than the bond.

Photocredit: © fred goldstein – Fotolia.com

Nope, this is not Stephanie Plum or Jackie Brown. This is Robin Sandoval-March: copy editor, blogger, published songwriter and screenwriter… and our newest bail bondsman (bondswoman?).

Robin grew up in San Jose. Bail bonds in San Jose is incredibly competitive, perhaps one of the most competitive bail bond markets in California. But Robin wouldn’t have dreamed of that connection. She set her sights on the songwriting business in L.A. “It was a challenge at first, but I finally managed to have some of my songs published in film, records and television. Unfortunately, the pay wasn’t enough; I still needed a full time job,“  Robin told me when we spoke about her become a licensed California bail agent.

“I didn’t know the first thing about bail bonds,  but found the concept really interesting.” Robin loves interacting with people and has an effortless communication style, so this job was a perfect fit for her.  “As I progressed, I became increasingly interested in the bail process, the legal process and the jail system. To some, a family member ending up in jail is the most devastating thing that could happen in their lives. It’s really satisfying when I can help answer their questions, ease some of their stress and help to bail their loved one out of jail.”

The biggest surprise for Robin was how some people have a pre-conceived notion about those who need to be bailed out of jail. “The people I talk to on a daily basis are mainly the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins and friends of those who get into a one-time pickle. They are by no means, hardened criminals or repeat offenders. No one wants to sit in jail any longer than they have to. Jail is a dangerous, scary place to be. We know that. So believe me, we’re going to do our best to have them released as quickly as possible. When we do, it’s more than just a days work.”

Robin pursued her BS in Business Management and spent several years in the corporate arena with companies such as NBC, McDonald’s Corporate and Watson Wyatt Worldwide, then later for a non-profit foundation as an event coordinator. Robin was married in 2006 and launched a marketing / public relations, and event coordination business. She also spent time working with her husband in the real estate industry.

These days, when Robin tells her friends she’s a bail bondsman, they wonder if she’s doing research for a new screenplay. “I explain that life imitates art on every level, even in the world of bail bonds. One friend of mine chuckled, but later asked me (quietly) for one of my business cards.“

At first glance, Jennifer is your typical San Fernando Valley work-from-home-mom. Jen grew up in the Valley, went to private school, achieved a BA in Radio & Film from Cal State Long Beach and married. She worked in the music industry for nearly ten years.  Her husband works for Disney. Really, these folks define a “West Valley” family. So how did she become a bail bondsman?

Out of college, Jennifer went to work for KROQ Radio, then moved on to EMI Music, where she started in an entry level position and was running her department as Advertising Supervisor when she had her second child. Parents of two small ones and doing the L.A. Industry carreers, Jen and her husband quickly realized they wanted more for their family than a couple of hours a day with their kids. They agreed to bite the bullet financially and Jen left to start a small ebay business so that they kids wouldn’t grow up in daycare, like they were seeing so often around them.

Making wedding favors and a very part-time job helped the family financially. But when a layoff came from her part-time gig and with the kids both in school, it was time to think about what was next.

That’s where I came in… Jennifer has been a friend of mine for years. I knew she had great judgement, a strong work ethic and a dedication to family – the perfect addition to our bail business.

Jen accepted our invitation to join our business because it fit her need for flexibility: she works when her kids are at school and when they’re asleep. She’s there to get her kids off in the morning, pick them up, make dinner, do homework and be at every game and activity. 

Never having had any first-hand experience with the criminal system, Jennifer tells me what interests her most about bail is learning about the justice system and law enforcement as well as helping people in need. Jen had an advantage coming to work for us because she had seen the business from my perspective. She wasn’t surprised by the late hours or the immediacy of dealing with people in crisis.

Jen says that what does surprise her is, “how many ‘everyday people’ get arrested for  avoidable mistakes like drug posession or minor warrants that weren’t taken care of — things that seem little, but impact their lives sometimes greatly.”

I asked how people react when Jen tells them she’s a bail bondsman: “Surprise! Most people know nothing about bail bonds. It’s not like telling people you’re a waitress or a CPA, where they get what you do. Saying I’m a bail bondsman is always a conversation starter whether I’m on the soccer field or at a neighborhood party.”

I’m happy to say that Jennifer Wheeler is the newest bondsman at Greg Rynerson Bail Bonds. She’s one of our main front-line employees, answering calls day and night to help California families during a time of need.

Recently, I was on vacation and there were three Janet Evanovich books on the bookshelf where we stayed. I thought that the perfect opportunity to find out what Stephanie Plum is all about. It only took me to page 3 of Three to Get Deadly to see how far fetched the story line would be; but entertaining just the same.

My first suprise was that Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter, rather than a bail bondsman. Not sure why this was such a surprise, people are constantly confusing me for a bounty hunter. I also found it interesting that although I was reading the third in the series, Stephanie had only been a bounty hunter for five months.

I think it was the background information about the bail industry that primarily ran counter to my experience.  For example, Stephanie tells us that bondsmen “loaned people money to post the bond.” As bondsmen, we don’t lend money at all. We charge a fee and put up a paper bond, which is a guarantee to the court that the defendant will show up for all required court dates. A bail bond is a “surety bond”.

The other part of the background that struck me is that Stephanie indicates that the bondsman charged 15% of the full bond amount as a fee to the client; as a bounty hunter she would make 10% of the bond amount if she brought back the “Failure to Appear” (known to me as a “skip“). This would indicate that the bondsman is still making money when the defendant doesn’t show up for court. Again, completely contrary to my experience. When some doesn’t show up for court and we hire a bounty hunter, we are loosing money. That’s why we bail out people we believe will show up for court.

Although I didn’t finish the book, it is always interesting to me to read something related to our industry. There are so many misconceptions about bail and bondsmen. I assume that fiction has to be the source. Of course, the reality is probably pretty boring by comparison. Plum fans, enjoy!

Photo credit: Lynn Holly

Sherry paid me some high compliments when she wrote:

One of the life lessons that has certainly come home to me personally this year is “You’ve got to take the bad with the good.” There simply can’t be good times unless there are bad ones too and both make up a life. How we handle and embrace those bad times is the stuff of personal growth. Also, “This too shall pass” comes to mind because nothing lasts and that is how it should be.

These thoughts kept going through my mind in this very insightful and informative interview with Tonya Rynerson of Greg Rynerson Bail. She shares quite a bit of information about an industry which I personally didn’t know much about, but more than that she showed me that this area really does help people at a time when they are probably at about their lowest point.

In this season and during these tough times in our economy think about who you have in your life that “watches your back” and helps you embrace both the good and the bad. What is it that they do for you? What qualities do they posses that they share? Tonya strikes me as such a person you would want to help if someone in your life was in trouble.

Find the complete transcript on our website. I have to thank Sherry; she really made it a good and easy experience.

Find more on women in bail: What’s a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Job Like This?