Better Bail Bonds Wins 2011 Best of Mesa Award

November 10, 2011 --24/7 Get Bail/Better Bail Bonds, with offices in Mesa and Phoenix, AZ, has been selected for the 2011 Best of Mesa Award in the Bail Bond Services category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country.

Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category.

These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. | News Release

Recommended Website Would Deter Bond Violators

FDL Reporter Online
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Written by Coleen Kottke

October 25, 2011

JUNEAU, WI -- Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls is interested in revamping the Dodge County Sheriff's Office website so that those on bond can have their bail bond conditions posted online.

According to Nehls, the link on the website would help inform the public about bond conditions and would give the public a chance to report anyone who is violating bond conditions.

Nehls notes that his office regularly receives public complaints about defendants violating bond conditions, but few people file reports with the police. He believes that an online link would make it easier to ensure that defendants, who are required to abstain from alcohol, driving, or have other bond conditions, actually do conform to those conditions or face consequences.  |  READ MORE

Finding the Best Bail Bond Services

Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, and no matter who you are or where you are from, you may find yourself in need of a bail bondsman at some point, whether it is for you or a loved one. Better Bail Bonds is available 24/7 to assist you in your time of need.

A bail bond is basically like a deposit. The person who needs bail will pay a percentage and the bailbond agent takes care of the rest. Only having to pay a percentage is not as much of a financial burden on the person who is in trouble.

You’re going to need all the information you can get on the person to be bonded out, if it’s a friend or family member. Make sure you know their address, the crime they were arrested for, place of employment, how long they’ve lived at their current residence, and similar information before calling a bail bondsman.

Better Bail Bonds will need this information on the defendant, and it will save you time later if you have all this written down beforehand. It will be easier for us to help you with all the information we need up front.

Better Bail Bonds offers low collateral and easy payment plans, with as little as 5% down. When you talk to a bail bondsman, he or she can help you set up a payment plan that fits your budget.

Since Arizona is a collateral state by law, please have any information on collateral available, as well as information on whether the person that needs bail assistance is a first time offender or will need additional monitoring once released.

Mother used house she doesn't own as bond collateral for fugitive son

By Megan O'Matz, Sun Sentinel

8:59 p.m. EDT, September 13, 2011

The mother of fugitive cop David Britto used her home as collateral to get her son out of jail. Now it seems there is a problem: She didn't own the house.

The mix-up appears to be yet another misstep in the dramatic saga of the Boynton Beach police officer who bolted for Brazil late last month rather than stand trial on charges of trafficking methamphetamines.

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boynton-beach/sfl-boynton-cop-on-the-run-believed-to-be-in-brazil-wptv-20110908,0,1503037.premiumvideo

 

 

Suspects bonding out of jail for less, affecting public safety

August 23, 2011 by Collateral Staff
Posted in: Bail Buzz

CHATTANOOGA, TN — Local judges note that bonding companies in Chattanooga are accepting low payments to get defendants out of jail, which could affect public safety. Bondsmen state that the current economic climate is putting pressure on them to accept, in some cases, 3% of a bond amount.

Some experts believe that the trend – while not against any laws – could result in higher bonds set by judges. The state bonding association believes that there is a saturation in the market, meaning more competition for bondsmen.

The association has considered increasing the requirements for new bondsmen, increasing fees, or even limiting the number of bail businesses allowed to open. | Read More

Hotel Standoff in Tucson, Arizona   

The Sheriff's Office responded to a call concerning shots fired near the Interstate 10 and Irvington Road at 2:11 a.m. When they arrived, deputies talked with two bail bondsmen from Better Bail Bonds who had left a hotel room after hearing shots from another room where they believed Felix was staying. Luis Felix, Jr., 22, surrendered himself to a SWAT team, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Office.

PreTrial Services Program Creates Debate

August 9, 2011 by Collateral Staff
Posted in: Bail Buzz

DELAND, FL — Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson, Public Defender Jim Purdy, State Attorney R.J. Larizza, and Chief Judge William Parsons have all put their support behind the local pretrial services program. The program has supervised more than 5000 cases in 2010 alone but faces budget cuts in 2012. However, not everyone agrees with the utility of the program. Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff has filed a bill which would limit pretrial services to indigent defendants. | Read More

Things you should know about bailing someone out of jail

Q. Why do we have to put up collateral?

A.Collateral is used to secure a surety bond. Collateral "secures" the performance of the appearance bond, and the appearance bond "secures" the appearance of the defendant to all of his court hearings. Collateral is returned upon the Court's exoneration of the bond. Depending on the location, collateral is required in every case; some states, such as Arizona, are collateral states.

Q. If I put my property up as collateral and a lien is placed on said property, how do I have the lien removed?

A.Once the defendant completes his/her court obligations and the bond is “exonerated,” you will be required to go to the clerk's window at the courthouse and get the exoneration of bond document showing that the liability to the bail bonding company has been concluded. It is your responsibility to get the form to your bail bonding company and request for the lien to be removed.

Please Note:
The bonding company will NOT remove the lien until they have received the OFFICIAL verification the bond has been exonerated; also the bonding company may require an additional fee before they can remove the lien.

Once the exoneration of bond has been received and all contractual fees have been paid, you will receive a “Full Reconveyance” document, usually within 30 days.

A common misconception we hear is the belief that once the bond is exonerated we receive our money back for the bond. This is incorrect.

The bail bonding company does not receive its money back once the bond is exonerated. Even if the case is never filed, the person who guarantees the premium is still responsible to pay the remaining balance until it is paid off.

Q. What are the legal percentages that a bonding company may charge and can they negotiate whatever dollar amount that they want?

A. The lowest legal limit that a bonding company may charge varies from state to state.

Q. What happens if the person I bail out “fails to appear” and the bonding company is unable to find him/her, the “fugitive?”

A. If a bail bonding company is unable to locate the client within a certain period of time from the forfeiture of the bail bond, the bail bonding company will have no other option but to pay the court the full face value of the bond written plus all applicable court and legal fees. The court will charge additional fees on top of the forfeited dollar amount. These rules vary from state to state.

If the bail bonding company is forced to pay the bond amount, plus fees, you, the guarantor of the bond, will be charged for all fees that you have contractually guaranteed.

Lack of Jail Space to Affect Bail Bonds

Jail space may affect bail bonds in Coryell CountyPosted On: Saturday, Jul. 23 2011 11:55 PMBy Philip Jankowski
Killeen Daily HeraldWhen justices of the peace set bail bond amounts for accused criminals, they take into account the nature of the charge, whether the person may be a flight risk and if the person may pose a danger to the community.

In Coryell County, justices of the peace may have to consider another factor — the lack of space at the Coryell County Jail.
Coryell County Judge John E. Firth said the undersized jail "significantly" affects bail bond amounts set by justices of the peace.
READ MORE

"Stephanie Plum" Author Brings Bounty Hunters to the Big Screen

From "Collateral" - a Bail Industry Magazine

Having bounty hunters as her primary characters gives Janet Evanovich a seemingly endless supply of plot twists because the fugitives they’re chasing are never short of head-scratching reasons for failing to appear at court appearances, she said.

“What’s great about writing these books is that there are nearly as many stories as there are people who decide, for whatever reason, not to show up for their court appearances,” Evanovich said.

Read More