Bondsmen Upset by Policies that Free More People

[cabluedem]

Source: Associated Press

Bondsmen upset by policies that free more people

By IVAN MORENO, Associated Press Writer

Sun May 24, 2:18 pm ET

LOVELAND, Colo. – Budget cuts and the cost of maintaining an overcrowded jail forced Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden to begin releasing inmates accused of lesser crimes without bond. Other police agencies across the country are following suit — to the chagrin of bail bondsmen who say their livelihood is threatened.

Officials in this northern Colorado county insist they're reaping savings by placing released inmates into less-costly supervision programs that can include screening for domestic violence and mental health problems. Supporters of such pretrial programs, which are being tried from Atlanta's Fulton County to Spokane, Wash., argue that the usual practice of requiring bond for release doesn't prevent crime.

"It simply separates those who have money from those who don't," said Tim Murray, executive director of the Washington-based nonprofit Pretrial Justice Institute. Over the years, some 300 U.S. jurisdictions have implemented pretrial programs, Murray said. While no data suggests the numbers are growing because of the bad economy, Murray said the recession could force corrections officials to rethink their jail policies.

"They're looking at their (jail) population and realizing that many of the people they're paying to house are there because they can't pay their bonds," Murray said.

In Fulton County, Ga., officials decided in April to put more people under supervision instead of jailing them. Fulton County has had a pretrial services program for more than a decade but is expanding it to include people with prior offenses or those who may be homeless.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090524/ap_on_re_us/us_meltdown_no_bond_required

[ZombieHorde]

1. Somehow, I don't feel sorry for them. nt

[Mythsaje]

2. Boo hoo...

Life's tough all over.

[billyoc]

3. For-profit health insurance workers are at risk with single payer, too.

And I've heard them defended here.

[Downwinder]

14. Why should it be harder to get out of jail if you plead not guilty than if you plead guilty?

The bond should never be higher than the fine for the offense. Law Enforcement has become a profit center. Keeping the jail full justifies a new jail and more money.


Teaching respect for a system which deserves no respect.

[imdjh]

4. We won't have to wait long for the headlines on this one

The cops and courts are bound to make some monstrous mistakes.

Honestly, I think we could clear out the jails a lot easier if we would go back to stocks and public floggings. It's a deterrent and it doesn't cost nearly as much as housing these dumbasses.

[BR_Parkway]

13. A quick skim had me read that as flogging stock brokers - guess

my subconscious has been thinking about how to deal with all this mess more than I realized!

[imdjh]

17. I'm not sure that even amputation would dissuade stock brokers. nt

[bluestateguy]

5. One of the few bright spots of this low-grade Depression

is that states are being forced to release petty offenders from prison, non-violent drug offenders and old men who are no longer a danger to anyone. If that also has the effect of weakening the prison-industrial complex then that is a very positive thing.

[Swagman]

9. how bizarre a person is jailed for doing something to their own body

like taking a drug !

get a new occupation bond's bailsmen...yet another example of how incresing "crimes" and making criminals out of more people is just more big business. Next up..tears from those who run private prisons.

[cabluedem]

10. And the uneducated prison guards making over 100k per year. nt

[safeinOhio]

12. They can moonlight as repo men.

growing business.

[Confusious]

15. Only if your poor will you go to jail

rush limpbaugh.

"The beauty of the law is that it keeps the rich and poor alike from sleeping under a bridge"

[ddiver]

6. Bondsmen should now require 50 - 75 % to cover their exsposure.

Courts set the cost and bondsmen c0over the difference.
Risk vs gain.

[raouldukelives]

7. 15 years ago...

My small town had a couple bail bondsman. Now I know of at least 8 and I'd bet more exist. Quite the growth industry.

[imdjh]

18. Like pawnbrokers and peepshows. Not a good sign.

Every town should have one pawnbroker and one peepshow, but if you have ten of each then you have a problem.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

8. Another bunch of bums riding for free...... THE BONDSMEN

MOSTLY SCAM, LITTLE JUSTICE

[tooeyeten]

11. Missing the issue

All these marijuana type arrests, as well as drug arrests generally are overcrowding the jails.

Let's start solving the real problem and CHANGE the laws, this will reduce the prison population by half, but then all that taxpayer money won't be needed. OMG.

[hayu_lol]

16. This applies to JAILS...not PRISONS...

Jails are local.