Bail Bill Considered

THIBODAUX, LA – A new bill has been introduced in Louisiana, suggesting that some pre-trial inmates could be placed on house arrest in order to ease overcrowded conditions at Lafourche Parish jail. Representative Damon Baldone’s House Bill 653 would permit some inmates to be placed in house arrest with an electronic monitoring device.  The Lafourche Sheriff’s Office would have discretion as to which inmates to select for home arrest, although inmates accused of violent crimes or sex crimes would not be eligible. Lafourche bail bondsmen have... Read more

Bill Targets Caller ID Spoofing

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  A new law, called the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2010, may soon target caller ID spoofing, long used by conmen but also legitimate professionals, including PIs and bondsmen. Caller ID Spoofing allows inaccurate information to show up on a phone call recipient’s caller ID.The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2010 allows people to block their outbound caller ID information. However, critics of the new law point out that the law does not make clear what legitimate uses of caller ID spoofing are allowed. The law does not allow any use... Read more

Leon County Commission Representative Opposes Bail Bill

LEON, FL – Bill Proctor, a representative on the Leon County Commission, objects to SB 782/HB 445, a bill he calls nothing more than “an economic stimulus fix for the bail bonds industry.” Proctor notes that the number of inmates in Leon County jail has decreased from 1,134 in 2006 to 915 in 2010, a drop he attributes to the pretrial release program. He believes that SB 782/HB 445, a bill which seeks to limit who can be part of the pretrial release program, would cost taxpayers more money in overcrowded jails and a larger jail population. Read... Read more

Pretrial Bill Sees Controversy in Florida

ST. JOHN, FL – Senator John Thrasher is advocating a bill — Senate Bill 782– which would limit access to pretrial programs by limiting the requirements for legibility more strictly. Thrasher and other advocates of the bill note that the new legislation would make streets safer, would save tax dollars, and would keep dangerous criminals behind bars. Opponents of the bill, including the St. Johns County Commission, note that the new law would overcrowd jails and would leave less wealthy defendants to remain in jail for long periods of... Read more

Pretrial Release Debate Now in Virginia

RICHMOND, VA – Across the country and now in Virginia, bondsmen are speaking out against pretrial release programs. Now, The House of Delegates’ Courts of Justice Committee has passed a bill which might allow only indigent defendants to qualify for pretrial release programs. In addition, judges are still permitted to release defendants without bail, on their own recognizance. The bill has the support of bondsmen, who say pretrial programs hurt business, cost taxpayer dollars, and may allow dangerous criminals to skip court dates. Read the... Read more