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.

This week, the AboutBail.com staff was reading about a suspicious fire that affected a bondsman and the tribulations of a self-described bounty hunter who was only recently released from Afghanistan. Add to that delays at the Fresno Jail and you have a week that challenged the profession. The one light of hope comes from proposed legislation that might restore more power to bail agents. Our top picks for this week's news stories are:

US Bounty Hunter Released in Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN - Jack Idema has left Afghanistan after being pardoned by President Karzai. Idema served only three years of his ten year sentence. Although the bounty hunter has claimed that his work in the country was approved by the Afghan and US governments, both governments refute the claim. Idema was one of the Special Forces soldiers working privately in the country. Many private workers were in Afghanistan, attracted by either the huge rewards on al-Qaeda suspects or working for security companies. Idema said his team was finding terror suspects in July 2004, when Afghan forces raided a home in Kabul and arrested him and his colleagues. The eight men being held captive in the house claimed to have been tortured in the home. (BBC News, June 13, 2007)

Bail Bondsman's Office Fire Thought to be Arson
MARYLAND - A fire at the offices of a downtown Rockville bail bondsman's office has been deemed arson by fire investigators. Nick Pantazes Bail Bonds at 77 South Washington St. was affected by a small early-morning fire. By the time Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service emergency personnel arrived on the scene, the blaze was already contained by the sprinkler system in the building. However, an investigation showed signs of a break-in and potential burglary. A trained dog detected accelerants, suggesting a liquid was used to ignite the fire. While no injuries were reported, approximately $25,000 worth of damage was caused by the blaze. (Post-Newsweek Media, Inc., June 11, 2007)

Bondsman Arrives In Jail, Inmate Mistakenly Freed
TENNESSEE - James Gregory Wallace, being held on a DUI charge, was not supposed to be released from jail, according to Judge Reed Dixon. When a bail bondsman showed up at the prison, the computer system did not show that Wallace was ordered to stay in jail. As a result, jailer Tillman Steele released him. Wallace was free for a few days and a search failed to find him. He returned to jail on his own. (The Monroe County Advocate, June 11, 2007)

U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach Argues for Bail Reform
FLORIDA - U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach has testified at a congressional hearing that the bail industry must be reformed to remove unfair advantages. According to Wexler, wealthy federal defendants have the advantage in court, and he would prefer to see bail agents return to their traditional role in order to even out the system. Current law dictates that if extra conditions are assigned by a federal judge to a bonded defendant's release - and such conditions can include anything from drug testing to a curfew - a bail agent must ensure that the defendant arrives for trail and also fulfils conditions. If the bail agent cannot make the defendant adhere to the extra conditions, the agent risks forfeiting the bond. Wexler feels it is unjust to expect agents to guarantee good behavior as well as presence at trial. Wexler has also introduced the Bail Bond Fairness Act, together with U.S. Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando. This legislation would make agents responsible only for defendants appearing in court - it would not make agents responsible for any extra conditions. (The Palm Beach Post, June 8, 2007)

Fresno County Jail and Bail Agents Face Delays
CALIFORNIA - A new computer program at Fresno County Jail is slowing down the booking process, making both bail agents and inmates wait. According to media reports, dozens of inmates are in holding cells because they cannot be processed as quickly as usual. Some have been waiting since June 1. Some suspects may simply be released because of the backlog. Police officers and bail agents also have to wait as the booking process evens out again. Although problems with the new booking software will likely be resolved soon, frustration is building over the situation. (CBS, Jun 7, 2007)

California Bail Resource Center
Pre-Licensing Education
June 23-24, 2007 Sacramento, CA		July 28-29, 2007 San Diego, CA
Continuing Education
June 24, 2007 Sacramento, CA		July 29, 2007 San Diego, CA
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Florida Surety Agents Association
FSAA Continuing Education
Securing & Converting Collateral June 19, 2007 Jacksonville, FL		Surviving an Agency Audit June 20, 2007 Jacksonville, FL
Use of Deadly Force for Lawful Self-Defense June 20, 2007 Tampa, FL		Uniform Criminal Extradition Act June 28, 2007 Winter Park, FL
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Mississippi Bail Agents Association
MBAA Summer Meeting
July 6-7, 2007 Biloxi, MS
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North Carolina Bail Agents Association
NCBAA Pre-Licensing Classes
July 9-10, 2007 McKimmon Center Raleigh, NC
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Professional Bondsmen of Texas
PBT Bail Bond Courses June 22-23, 2007 Austin, TX click here for details on PBT Bail Bond Courses