Editor's Note: The Bail News Round-up consists of news items that occurred over the previous week and upcoming industry events. If you have items you would like to contribute, please call us at (866) 411-2245 or click here.

Spring is upon us now and the staff at AboutBail.com has been enjoying the sunshine, blooming flowers and this weeks bail news. This weeks newspapers, TV and other media have been filled with great bail news stories. From items about legislation to stories about bail professionals gone awry, here were our picks of the week:

Three Bail Bondsmen and a Police Lieutenant Indicted in New Haven
One month after being arrested, three bail bondsmen and a New Haven police lieutenant have been indicted by a grand jury on corruption charges. Officers William White and Justen Kasperzyk were both arrested and charged on various counts related to stealing government money. Charges against Kasperzyk are still pending, while White was indicted this past week. Following the arrests, New Haven police disbanded the narcotics unit that White headed. Bail bondsmen Robert Jacobs, Paul Jacobs and Philip Jacobs, were also arrested and charged with bribery conspiracy. The bondsmen offered White and other police officers bribes in order for the officers to track down bail skippers. (Connecticut - Hartford Courant, Apr. 25, 2007)

Preacher Causes Bail Controversy
Forrest City Pentecostal preacher Thomas Holloway caused a bail stir after a Crittenden County judge set his bond at only $50,000. Holloway was charged with attempting to murder his wife and is alleged to have stated that he would finish off the job since his bond was set so low. Holloway appeared before a West Memphis judge and his bond was raised to one million dollars. The judge who originally set the bond at $50,000 has stated that the bond amount was a mistake, caused by incomplete information received from a bail bondsman. The judge noted that when he set the bail he believed the case was a domestic case. (Tennessee - WMC-TV Memphis, Apr. 25, 2007)

Faux Bail Bondsman Steals Money While in the Wrong House
In one of the most bizarre cases this week, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is looking for a bail bondsman - sort of. The bail bondsman in question -- Shakur Abdul Hakeem, also known as Sean Orlando Hunter -- was apparently not licensed as such at the time he and a co-worker allegedly stole money. The two accused apparently were looking for - or claimed to be looking for - a fraud client. However, they were at the wrong address when the alleged theft took place. Authorities are meeting with Beaufort County Clerk of Courts to determine whether the bonding company that employed the two men will be barred from doing business in the county. (South Carolina - IslandPacket.com, Apr. 25, 2007)

Legislative Reform for Bail Industry Gains Additional Support
A scandal in the New Haven Police Department, involving three bail bondsmen charged with bribing police officers, may be helping lobbyists change bail legislation. Three years ago, a reform plan to regulate the state's bail bondsmen was closely passed on by the General Assembly but is now again on the legislative agenda - and is quickly gaining support. This past week, chairmen of several key legislative committees voiced their support of the new rules. Chairmen of the Public Safety, Judiciary, Insurance, and Real Estate committees decided to act fast in attaching the suggested reforms to another piece of legislation. The new legislation would mean that the state's bail bondsmen would not be regulated by the Insurance Department - as they are now -- but by the Department of Public Safety. In addition, the process for recovering forfeited bonds would be overseen by the Department of Administrative Services, which is the body that files civil actions to recover money which is owed to the state. It is expected that far more forfeited bonds would be recovered if the reform becomes law. (Connecticut - New Haven Register, Apr. 24, 2007)

Baltimore County Considers Changing Bail Process with Video
Baltimore County is considering using video rather than in-person appearances before a District Court to conduct bail review hearings. The new video bail review hearing system could be in place as soon as this summer, although the decision is still being reviewed. The new system would streamline the current process. With video bail review, prisoners would be taken directly to the detention center and linked by video to judges. This would reduce the amount of resources needed to transport prisoners and would allow more officers to be assigned to the street. It has been suggested that bail bondsmen be allowed to arrange bail in the Catonsville or Essex District courts even when clients are in Towson. This would ensure that released prisoners would have the resources to return home. (Maryland - Owings Mills Times, Apr. 20, 2007)

Fairdale Bail Bondsman Gets Surprising Phone Call
Most bondsmen get phone calls when someone has been arrested and requires help posting bail. Not for Kenny Crook, owner of National Bail Bonding. This past week, Crook was contacted by a wanted Fairdale man. James Randall Griffith was wanted by police for robbery and wanted to turn himself into police. He called Crook for help on how to do so. Griffith is now in police custody - with Crook's help. (West Virginia - The Register Herald, Apr. 24, 2007)

Ugandan Lawmakers Seek Bail Reform
The face of the bail process in Uganda may soon change. Lawmakers in that country are drafting a new law that would impose stiffer bail terms on wrongdoers. The move is not without controversy. High Court Judge Sempa Lugayizi has publicly stated that bail is an automatic right protected by the Ugandan Constitution. Lawmakers, however, are claiming that bail is not a right and not automatic. They hope to withhold bail in some cases or set it very high in order to keep dangerous criminals behind bars. (International - People's Daily Online, Apr. 25, 2007)

Bounty Hunter Helps Get a Gun off the Streets
It may be just one gun, but to bounty hunter Adel Mikhaeil, it is one less gun that can be used in a future crime. This past Monday, Mikhaeil nabbed Jersey City fugitive Lawrence Nelson, who had skipped on bail and had been charged with aggravated assault. While in custody with Mikhaeil, Nelson revealed that he had a gun hidden away and wanted to turn in the weapon. Mikhaeil negotiated with him and was able to recover the weapon and turn in over to the Hudson County Prosecutor Office. (New Jersey - The Jersey Journal, Apr. 25, 2007)

California Bail Agents Association
2007 Pre-licensing Registration June 2-3, 2007 Sacramento, CA click here for details		2007 Renewal License Education June 3, 2007 Sacramento, CA click here for details
		June 11, 2007 Los Angeles, CA click here for details
Bail Resource Center
Pre-Licensing Education
April 28-29, 2007 Sacramento, CA		May 5-6, 2007 Costa Mesa, CA
May 19-20, 2007 Van Nuys, CA		June 2-3 , 2007 Riverside, CA
June 9-10 , 2007 Los Angeles, CA		June 23-24 , 2007 Sacramento, CA
Continuing Education
April 29, 2007 Sacramento, CA		May 6, 2007 Costa Mesa, CA
May 20, 2007 Van Nuys, CA		June 3 , 2007 Riverside, CA
June 10 , 2007 Los Angeles, CA		June 24 , 2007 Sacramento, CA
click here to view all Bail Resource Center Events
Florida Surety Agents Association
FSAA Continuing Education
Chapter 648 Update May 1, 2007 Tallahassee, FL		Uniform Criminal Extradition Act May 2, 2007 Ocala, FL
Chapter 903 Update May 3, 2007 Ocala, FL		Chapter 903 Update May 5, 2007 Winter Park, FL
Uniform Criminal Extradition Act May 23, 2007 Tampa, FL		Chapter 903 Update May 23, 2007 Pensacola, FL
Chapter 648 Update May 29, 2007 Winter Park, FL		Surviving an Agency Audit June 3-4, 2007 Miami, FL
click here for details on FSAA Continuing Ed events
Mississippi Bail Agents Association
MBAA May Board Meeting
May 9, 2007 Byram, MS
click here for details on all MBAA Meetings
MBAA Continuing Education
May 8, 2007 Jackson, MS
click here for details on all MBAA Events
North Carolina Bail Agents Association
NCBAA Pre-Licensing Classes
May 14 & 15, 2007 Raleigh, NC		June 11 & 12 , 2007 Raleigh, NC
click here for details
NCBAA Continuing Education
May 5, 2007 Raleigh, NC
click here for details
South Carolina Bail Agents Association
SCBAA Meeting May 9, 2007 Spartanburg, SC
click here for details
Professional Bondsmen of Texas
PBT Bail Bond Courses June 22-23, 2007 Austin, TX click here for details
Washington State Bail Agents Association
Spring Meeting May 3-4, 2007 Bellevue, WA click here for details