Tread Carefully in Bail Reform Waters by Nicholas Wachinski Recently, there has been much discussion in Maryland and nationally about reforming the bail system, but some policymakers and judges appear to be headed down a dangerous path that ultimately puts public safety at risk. These discussions are based on anRead More →
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (October 14, 2015) – The American Bail Coalition today called on state policy-makers to pursue fair-chance or ban-the-box policies to ensure that citizens with a criminal record have every fair chance to attain a job and stable employment. “Our members know from first-hand experience that the lack ofRead More →
In a stunning rebuke of Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman’s recent “overhaul” of the state bail system, no-nonsense Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Edward McLaughlin has labelled the plan an “insult” to the judiciary. “Lippman’s . . . reform of the ‘broken’ bail system insults judges, overlooks that bail review is availableRead More →
American Bail Coalition Statement on Recent Arrests of Bail Agents in California ANNAPOLIS, Md. (August 31, 2015) – The American Bail Coalition (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to reports of arrests of bail bond agents by California state and county law enforcement officials. “ABC supports the enforcementRead More →
Assembly Judiciary Committee May 15, 2014 Position: Opposed Dear Chairman John McKeon and esteemed members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee: My name is Kathryn Cohen. I am a legislative and policy counsel for the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national non-profit organization based in Arlington, Virginia whose mission is to eliminateRead More →
Project Community Presents Princess Prom Dress Houston, Texas January 27th, 2014 – Midtown Bail Bonds has a non-profit organization called Project Community and one of the programs is Princess Prom Dress. Through Project Community, which is a community – focused program, we will donate new or gently used prom gownsRead More →
THE FUGITIVE: EVIDENCE ON PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM BAIL JUMPING Abstract On the day of their trial, a substantial number of felony defendants fail to appear. Public police have the primary responsibility for pursuing and rearresting defendants who were released on their own recognizance or on cash orRead More →
The Law of Commercial Surety and Miscellaneous Bail Bonds Nationwide, an ever-growing number of insurance companies act as sureties on commercial bail appearance bonds in federal, state and municipal courts. Bail is the means through which our criminal justice system permits the release of an accused from custody pending trial,Read More →
DIFFERENCES IN FAILURE TO APPEAR (FTA), RECIDIVISM/PRETRIAL MISCONDUCT, AND ASSOCIATED COSTS OF FTA This study was completed on behalf of the Dallas County (Texas) Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Relative to other elements of the criminal justice system, pretrial release and the mechanisms by which it operates, hasRead More →
Pretrial Release of Felony Defendants in State Courts Between 1990 and 2004, 62% of felony defendants in State courts in the 75 largest counties were released prior to the disposition of their case. Beginning in 1998, financial pretrial releases, requiring the posting of bail, were more prevalent than non-financial releases.Read More →
