Bail Bonds Blog and Resources
Reality Comes Knocking In Bail Free California
- Details
- Published: Friday, 18 October 2019 03:50
- Written by Chris Ramos
Near the end of his time occupying the governor's office in Sacramento, then California governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 10 or SB10. SB10 represented a wholesale abandonment of the cash bail system which, while imperfect, had nonetheless worked (and continues to work) nationwide for centuries. The goal, according to the governor, was restoring fairness to the system. While that makes for a great sound bite, it's about as far from the truth as Sacramento is from Adams County, Broomfield County, Weld County and Denver.
Real Bail Reform is Not Only Possible, It’s Simple
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 10 October 2019 17:38
- Written by Chris Ramos
In recent years the so-called bail reform movement has laid siege to statehouses from coast to coast. Brimming with noble-sounding rhetoric and backed by wealthy individuals who would never have to live with the consequences of the actions they champion, the movement has seen some limited "success" in states like New Jersey and California. But the movement itself is not actually about "bail reform." It's actually about bail elimination. Which is an entirely different matter.
Maalik Jackson-Wallace: Poster Child of the Bail Bonds Reform Movement
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 25 September 2019 16:17
- Written by Chris Ramos
What happens when you simply release violent criminals without bond? Good luck getting a bail bonds reformer to answer that question. Instead, they're likely to spout something about how a bail-free society means fewer people behind bars. Now, if it also meant fewer crimes being committed, that might be something to brag about. But the opposite is actually the case.
New York Peers Into the Abyss of Bail Reform
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 18 September 2019 11:15
- Written by Chris Ramos
Ask most people who say they support eliminating bail why they support it, and you'll likely get some form of "it discriminates against poor people." Okay. If true, that's horrible. But can they provide any evidence it's actually true? "Well," they'll likely reply, "there are a lot more poor people in jail than rich people."
Okay. But does being poor excuse you for murdering someone? Or raping someone? Or stealing their car? Or holding up a family grocery store with a loaded weapon? And if a person is accused of committing these types of crimes, shouldn't there be some way to ensure they show up to face their accuser in court?
The Truth About Ankle Bracelets and Bail Bonds
- Details
- Published: Sunday, 08 September 2019 15:55
- Written by Chris Ramos
One of the cornerstones of the anti-bail movement has been the oft-repeated notion that the entire concept of the bail bondsman is obsolete. There is nothing a bonding agent does, we've been told, that an ankle bracelet and some software can't do better. It sure sounds great. And in a world where 7-year-olds walk around with more computing power in their pocket than it took to send men to the moon, it's tempting to think it's true. But it's not. And one brave law enforcement official recently displayed the courage to stand in opposition to the catch and release mindset that has gripped parts of the nation.
What’s the Difference Between Public and Private Bail?
- Details
- Published: Saturday, 24 August 2019 20:28
- Written by Chris Ramos
Contrary to popular belief there is no constitutional right to bail bonding. “Hogwash!” You say. “What about the 8th amendment?” Well, the 8th amendment does mention bail. But it never states that everyone has a right to bail. Instead it approaches the subject from an oblique angle stating only that “excessive bail shall not be required”. That’s it. Nothing as concrete as the right to bear arms or the right to a speedy trial. The right to bail is inferred by the right to not be saddled with an overtly punitive bail amount. The actual status of bail and its shape is something the founders left to us later generations to figure out.