The myths and urban legends surrounding bail agents go from those heart-pounding, action-packed tales that reality TV and movies of the week tell, to the simplistic, hum-drum “get ‘em danno” episodic television shows that seem real enough for the average person to believe.
The truth is, most of what you hear about bail bond agents is more fiction than fact. Here are a few popular myths about bail agents that have made impressions on Americans coast-to-coast.
Myth #1 – All Bail Agents are Bounty Hunters
Bounty hunters have become popular figures thanks to Dog the Bounty Hunter’s reality TV show. This show has also blurred the line between bail agents and bounty hunters, leading many to believe that the two are one and the same.
In truth, most bail agents are not bounty hunters. For most bail agents, there is no heart-pounding action, the chase is not on, and they don’t actively pursue fugitives like Dog the Bounty Hunter does on television.
For one thing, Dog is a fugitive recovery agent who catches criminals in exchange for monetary payment. Bail agents are responsible for writing bail bonds and ensuring that defendants show up in court, and they may hire bounty hunters to locate and apprehend fugitives.
Myth #2 – Bail Agents take a Defendant’s Money and Have No Responsibility
A bail agent is tasked with helping people post bail. When a person employs a bail agent to assist with their release, the premium paid (or fee for bail) works as insurance to the bail agent that the defendant will show up for court dates. The agreement is legal and binding, which means that there is no room for irresponsibility. In fact, if the defendant does not appear for court, the bail agent is liable for the entire bail amount, as set by the court system.
Myth #3 – All Bail Agents are Men
In the State of California alone, over half of the bail agents are women. There are at least 15,000 bail agents in the nation, half of whom are women.
Myth #4 – Bail Agents Operate Outside of the Law
This is probably the biggest myth of all. In order to be a fully functional bail agent, there is a plethora of ongoing training that the bail agent needs to be a part of. Additionally, there are a number of professional organizations that support and promote the bail profession. The Professional Bail Agents of the United States (PBUS) association offers membership, information on the laws governing the profession and other tips on how to improve bail agents’ performance.
Myth #5 – All Bail Agents Operate Like they do in the Movies.
Films such as “The Hunter,” “Midnight Run,” “Pink Cadillac” and a host of others add that insatiable sense of adventure that moviegoers need in order to understand what may normally be seen as mundane dutie. Bail agents are actually entrepreneurs who have a passion for working within the boundaries of the law.
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I haven't ever been to jail, but I can't imagine how scary it must be to have to sit in a cell while you wait for your court hearing. I could understand wanting to post a bail so you could be with your family and proceed with everyday life activities while you prepare for your court date. I wasn't sure how Bail Bonds worked though, and this article helped to enlighten me. I would never plan on ending up in a situation that would require one, but this was interesting information. Thanks for sharing.
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