Washington Task Force Makes Bail System Recommendations

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A Washington state task force formed after the shooting deaths of four police officers recommended on Wednesday tighter regulation of bail bondsmen and more information-sharing with judges who set bail.

The suspect in the police deaths, Maurice Clemmons, bailed out of jail three times in 2009 without ever paying more than 4 percent up front, including just days before the Lakewood police shootings, the Seattle Times reported.

Unlike some states, Washington does not require people getting a bail bond to pay 10 percent of its value.

The 20-person task force, which was created to study the bail system following the police deaths, did not suggest minimum payment rates for those who get a bail bond.

Judges, prosecutors and victims' advocates have argued for a fixed bail bond premium. But defense attorneys and others have worried that a minimum payment could hurt the poor, the Times reported.

Task force member and Snohomish County prosecutor Mark Roe said some officials were "disillusioned" they didn't know bail bondsmen required less than 10 percent.

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Women Making An Impact In The Bail Bonds World

The bail bonds business, like many others, is often thought of as an old boy's club because the industry is seemingly dominated by men. Bail agents are sometimes stereotyped as a rough and tumble community that must match the perceived decorum of the defendants they serve. However, women are making serious inroads into the bail bonds world and doing it on their own terms. In fact, over half of the licensed bail bondsmen in California aren't actually “bondsmen” at all. They are bail bondswomen.

As the female presence grows in the bail bonds industry, they are starting to get much deserved attention for their contributions. For example, Jillian Hughes maintains a blog devoted to female bail bond issues at bail bonds girl which regularly highlights the impact of women in the industry.


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Bail Agent Group Sues Santa Ana County

SANTA ANA — The Orange County Bail Agents Association filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the city of Santa Ana for allowing agents representing bail bond companies to solicit business near jails and police stations.

Newport Beach-based attorney Richard P. Herman calls the solicitors “guerilla marketers” and claims in his request for a preliminary injunction that Santa Ana “got snookered” when city officials allowed the solicitation of bail business.

“It is sort of like giving a solicitors license to a hooker who would leave out the details,” Herman wrote in the lawsuit.

Herman also alleges the practice creates an unfair playing field for bail agents.

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Bondsmen Make it Cheaper to Get Out of Jail

Bail bond agents are increasingly helping cash-strapped defendants get out of jail with ultra-cheap financing deals, a practice that worries law enforcement officials and insurers, and could endanger public safety.

To bolster their businesses during the recession, a growing number of bondsmen nationwide are requiring upfront payments that are only a fraction of the customary 10 percent premium amount - sometimes with no collateral. In exchange, the accused agree to make up the difference on credit cards or monthly installment plans.

Bondsmen Track Down Suspect

A man accused of a fatal shooting on Clarksville Pike was quickly caught by bail bondsmen equipped with a stun gun.

The bondsmen, employed by the U.S. Fugitive Apprehension Service, were working on a case when they saw Tyrone Davis, 29, get shot in a parking lot about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. They chased the suspect on foot and fired a Taser at him before catching him on 26th Avenue North, police said.

Nicholas Short, 19, was charged with criminal homicide. A handgun was found in his jacket, police said.

The bondsmen told police they saw the man go through Davis's pockets after the shooting.

Economy Affecting Bail Business

Like many businessmen, Vince Gaskin's cell phone is strapped to his side and he is reachable day and night. He sorts through piles of paperwork and regularly meets with clients.

But unlike a typical businessman, Gaskin often meets with clients through a cell block window at 3 or 4 a.m.

"During the day it's pretty calm. Evenings are busier," Gaskin said. "We're like fireman waiting for the bell to go off."

But the stalled economy is taking a toll on Gaskin and others in the bail bonds business.

"One of the problems I'm seeing are the jails becoming overcrowded. With the economy the way it is, people can't afford to get out of jail," said Don Collins, a second-generation bondsman and owner of A-Harden Bail Bonding in Stuart.

Crime goes up when the economy is bad. But like any other businesses, bondsmen's customers have less money. That means fewer people who are arrested can find the cash or collateral due to the bondsmen in order to post bond and get them out of jail.

And that translates to less money for bondsmen, who already fight a tough economic battle because they can't compete based on price and have clients that can skip town — leaving the bondsmen out large amounts of money.

Bondsmen collect a non-refundable fee from a friend or family member to get the client out of jail. Collateralmight be required depending on how much the bail is set for. This is meant as a type of insurance for the bondsman to recoup their costs since they are ultimately liable for the full amount of the bond.

Bondsmen are backed by insurance companies to ensure they meet their financial obligations to the courts. Insurance companies put a portion of the bondsman's fee into what's called a build up fund. Accrued funds in this account are used if the bondsman is unable to recoup the full amount of the bond.

Bondsmen's fees are governed by Florida State Law, which requires them to collect 10 percent of any bail amount greater than $1,000, or $100 for each offense $1,000 or less.

There are more than 50 bail bond agencies on the Treasure Coast, so marketing is essential because the businesses cannot differentiate themselves based on price.

"People just want who will get them out the quickest with the least amount of hassle," said Gaskin, who has owned and operated Vince Gaskin's Bail Bonds — which has locations in Stuart, Fort Pierce and Vero Beach — since 1999.

Some bondsmen have Web sites, sponsor basketball and soccer leagues, or even golf tournaments to get their name out. Some also feel being in a close proximity to the jail makes a difference, although Ryan Collins, a 25-year-old bondsman, is a firm believer that having a good rapport with people makes a difference.

"You have to offer good customer service," said Ryan Collins, who is the son of Don Collins.

All bondsmen complete a series of training courses and schooling, and are required to have a 1-year internship with a licensed bondsman before becoming licensed themselves. Additionally, they have to complete seven hours of continued education each year, where they receive training on self-defense, handcuff techniques and how to use a gun.

If someone fails to appear for court, bondsmen have up to 60 days to produce their client or the bondsmen must pay the full amount of the bond. Bondsmen then have the authority to track down these "skips" — as they are called in the business — for something called a "pick up," said Gaskin, who lost his bid for St. Lucie County Commission District 1 in the August primary.

"Our client's paperwork is our warrant," Gaskin said. "By signing the paperwork, they are giving us the authority to arrest them any time of the day, any where."

In September, Gaskin, along with two of his private investigators traveled to Puerto Rico for a client that was out on a $30,000 bond.

If someone flees, the decision to go after them is handled on a case-by-case basis. Deciding whether to make a pick up depends on the amount of the bond and what information the bondsman has to work with.

"We lose a lot of money. Bail bondsmen take a lot of losses. If I had every dime that was due to me, I'd probably take a break for 10 years," Gaskin said.