Is Bail Enforcement a good future reference?

Good conversation.

I got a couple of questions and observances.

First, Ruffin, you say our industry is on the way out and wont be here in 10 yrs. I understand the regulations get tougher, believe me it haunts me full time. When I first started, I was told my my GA at the time that the industry would be over in 5yrs. I dont know that the bail industry will go away? I see judges around here that went from everyone posting bond to officer discretion on misdemeanors. Bad checks and such have a summons sent out to the defendant. But, if they fail to answer the summons, a warrant and bond is issued. It took a while to come full circle, but it has. Felonies still have bonds set.

I could be wrong, but I just dont see it happening? Some judges went to 10% to the court. After a while, for some unknown reason, LOL, they changed to something like 3000 cash or 5k surety.

As for BE work, I dont know? It seems to me like if I wanted to do strictly BE work, I would want to go somewhere like AZ. Plenty of bonds being written and bondsmen cant pick up their own skips, which is a totally BS rule IMO, takes completely away from the whole reason for bail. However thats the rule and should be plenty of work for a good, honest BEA.

JMHO.

Mr. Berry,

Below is the statement that I was referring to:

"...don't really have a superior to answer to, certainly don't have the politics involved, aren't to constrained by jurisdictional issues,..."

In my case, I have to answer to the client, police dpt, sheriff's dpt, state troopers, Albama Burea of Investigation, Madison County District Attorney's office, etc, etc.

I am also constantly aware of jurisdictional issues. Because the area I am in borders 2 different states, Tn. and Ga. both of which are regulated BEA states, I have to be extremely well versed on all state laws. Not to mention my occasional excursion into Fl.

So that is what I meant when I said perhaps Md. is a bit more relaxed....I don't know.

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River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

Andy,

I based that statement of possible industry extinction on what I have been told by industry leader's at each and every seminar or school I attend.

They seem to base it on increased regulations, stricter bond forfeitures, an overall nationwide reduction in the number of bail bond companies that are now in existence as oposed to say 10 yrs ago, and the last indicator of some state legislators opting for court controlled 10% bonds (such as Oregon).

The theory, as I understand it, is there is a nationwide trend towards a reduction in our industry. So while certain areas may be "hot spots" now...they may very well be dry wells in the next few years...who knows ?

Another issue facing Az right now is this new illegal immigrant act taking full effect tomorrow. How many skips is this act going to create for the bail industry over there ? How many illegal immigrants are out on bond that are now fleeing the state of Az under threat of persecution ? This is certainly 1 reason for the availability of large case loads there.

So if anyone is fluent in Spanish and has resources across the border, there is your temporary "Gold Mine"...."Carpe Diem" .

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River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601