Keep Bailing

In order to get released from jail, one would customarily use the services of a traditional bail bondsman or post the full cash bail with the jail.  At the Ventura County jail, which is just a few miles from my office, they have a new way to post bail.  It’s called credit card bail.

How Credit Card Bail Works

The Ventura jail phone has a toll free 800 phone number posted near the phone.  An inmate or family member can call this phone number to bail out of jail.   Here is how it works:  Let’s say you have a bail for $20,000.    This credit card bail system allows the inmate to have the full bail charged (plus a 7% processing fee for Ventura County) to a credit card.  For example, on a $20,000 bail bond, an inmate would be charged a total of $21,400 for release from jail.  Once the defendant has appeared in court, they would be refunded $20,000.  The net effect of this transaction is that the inmate would be charged 7% to be bailed out of jail.   Who gets to keep the 7%?  It seems that the county takes a cut and the “third party” unlicensed processing entity makes a nice profit.

Ventura County is not the only county in California that enables inmates to bail out using a credit card.  In fact, several states now utilize some form of this process.  Over the past several years, credit card bail seems to be spreading like wildfire.

Why is this bad for California?

1. No accountability.  What happens when the defendant Read more »

This falls under the category “What is Wrong With People Anyway?” An Oxnard man was arrested in Ventura for punching a 13 year-old boy during a fight at a local soccer game.

The incident occurred in Ventura on Saturday at the end of the game, when a fight broke out between the two teams. According to the Ventura County Star, Read more »

Following the Boss’s Orders Can Land You in Jail

When people hear that we’re in bail bonds, one of the first things they say is, “You must work with some interesting people.” Yes, we do work with interesting people, but probably not in the way that you would think. Most of our clients are regular people like you, your kids, or your grandparents. In this case, one of those regular people happened to discover a dead body. Of course, it’s not illegal to find a dead body. But it does become a criminal matter if you find one and wait several days before you call the police! Now, for the rest of the story… Read more »