Are Bail Bondsmen a Problem?

The concept of bail bonds goes back nearly a thousand years in English common law and migrated to the United States during the colonial period. It was such a key feature of American justice at the time of the nation’s founding that it got its own mention in the Bill of Rights where the 8^th Amendment states flatly that “Excessive bail shall not be required”. (The founders wanted to prevent the practice of holding people in custody by means of exorbitant bail demands, which often happened in England.)

Not Alone

There are many websites out there that state either that the United States is the only country to still use a bail system or that the list of such countries is confined to the US and the Philippines. The fact is, however, that there are quite a few countries, including England from which we derived the practice, that still make provisions for bail, including cash bail. One thing that separates the United States (and the Philippines) from the crowd is the bondsman.

Is the Bail Agent the Problem?

When someone is arrested in England, Wales, the Czech Republic, India, Scotland, Canada, and elsewhere they may well be offered bail. But if they are they make any cash payment or offer collateral directly to the court rather than using a private agent. In the US bail opponents tend to base their opposition to bail agents on their philosophical belief that a private citizen should not be allowed to profit off of the justice system. While that sounds very principled and all it ignores the fact that lawyers often profit off the justice system to an obscene degree. And no one is suggesting we do away with lawyers any time soon. At least no one who understands the value of a good lawyer.

The Value of a Good Bail Bonds Agent

• A good bail agent is more than just someone who is going to help you win your loved one’s release from jail, just like a good lawyer is more than someone who sits next to you in court counting their billable hours.
• A good bondsman is someone who will help explain the process to you.
• A good bondsman has professional connections in your area, which will help them to determine your loved one’s status quickly and get the wheels of release moving without delay.
• A good agent is also there for you and your loved one in the days and weeks leading up to the first court appearance, reminding you of key dates and answering questions regarding what is and is not permissible behavior.
• In short, a good agent is an invaluable ally in your quest to clear your name or that of your loved one. And you can never have enough of those when facing off against the enormous resources of the state.

Finding the Right Bail Bondsman

Just as there are lawyers who work tirelessly on behalf of their clients and others who have a hard time remembering their client’s name so too there are good bail bonding agents and there are others you might want to take a pass on. When looking for a good bail agent keep the following questions in mind:

1. Does the agent dress and behave like a professional, or do they look and act like they just came from a keg party at the local frat house?
2. Does the bondsman have a brick-and-mortar office or are they passing out business cards in front of the courthouse?
3. Do they have an actual bail license? And if so, is it current?
4. Did they come recommended or did you get their phone number from a flyer taped to a telephone pole?
5. What does the Better Business Bureau have to say about their bail bonds business?
6. Have they been in business for some time or are they still wet behind the ears?

Standing up for Ordinary People

Plenty of seemingly high-minded people and organizations complain that bail bondsmen play too big a role in the justice system. They point to statistics that show that more than 60 percent of defendents facing felony charges in 2022 required bail bonding for release.