Don’t Let Pretrial Services Attack the Bail Industry

The National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies has released the first issue of their “Advocacy Brief.” Entitled “The Truth About Commercial Bail Bonding in America,” this article is filled with specious claims that spin facts and figures to support the abolition of commercial bonding. The 10 page document, available online, paints the commercial bail system as a money-hungry monster who cares little about community or justice. Labeled “Facts & Positions,” this paper consistently falls back on the argument... Read more

PBUS “All Hands on Deck!” Alert

PBUS President Linda Braswell has announced the creation of the PBUS J.A.I.L. Summit, co-chaired by Armando Roche and Debbie Jallad, as a response to the NACo-PJI initiative to evaluate all county jails and, in essence, recommend pre-trial services at each of them (click here to read the NACo-PJI recommendations for Mecklenburg County, NC). The Summit will take place at the beginning of September in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas area. Industry leaders will be invited to take part in this summit and distinguish how to engage PBUS members, bail agents,... Read more

Colorado County Debates Pretrial Release

Colorado bondsman Steve Mares is speaking out about Larimer County’s pretrial service program.  Mares feels that the $1.7 million Larimer County spends on the pretrial service program is excessive, especially compared to the $802,000 budget Jefferson County, twice the size of Larimer County, spends on their pretrial  service program. Mares maintains that the pretrial service program is taking business away from the private bail sector, that the pretrial service program is not as effective, and that the pretrial service program places unnecessary... Read more

Pasco County, FL Phasing Out Pretrial Services

Bob White, the sheriff of Pasco County, Florida, has recently announced that his county will be phasing out pretrial services due to budget constraints.  As of the end of 2008, the pretrial services unit had been responsible for almost 700 defendants, with another 400 released on their own recognizance but without police supervision.  The sheriff’s department stopped accepting defendants into this program on March 23rd, 2009. Pasco-Pinellas State Attorney Bernie McCabe and County Court Judge William G. Sestak do not support the dissolvement... Read more