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.

The AboutBail.com staff this week was reading about a bail enforcement professional committed to tracking down a dangerous felon. We were reading of a bail bondsman who had bad news to deliver and of changes (and possible changes) to legislation. If you are sick of the re-runs already, just check out our pick of the news this week:

Fletcher Heights Fugitive Targeted
PENNSYLVANIA - The Fletcher Heights neighborhood, near 83rd Avenue and Beardsley Road has recently become the home of the family of a known fugitive. Bail Enforcement Agent Ken Barr approached residents of the area to tell them that fugitive, Gerard Boguslaw Zalewski, may be nearby; his mother and sister moved to the area just this year. Zalewski has been on the run since 2006, after pleading guilty to two sex crimes involving minors in 2005. Ken Barr has been following the case and hopes to find the felon soon. (inrich.com, June 21, 2007)

Bail Bondsman Learns of Inmate Death
VIRGINIA - Pamela L. Bayne allegedly screamed in her Richmond City Jail isolation cell at the guard for thirty minutes before collapsing and being rushed to the emergency room, where she died. Her family is alleging that the jail did nothing to inform them of the situation, and they only found out about Bayne's death from a bail bondsman. Bayne was arrested for assault on an emergency medical technician. Her family is worried that she was not receiving necessary medication while incarcerated. When bail bondsman Scott Godhardt was sent in by the family to bail Bayne out, he was told that she had "expired" on June 2. The family was told by Scott Godhardt of the death on June 14. Bayne's death was not reported to the state Department of Corrections, possibly because Bayne officially died in the hospital. (inrich.com, June 21, 2007)

Family Wants Child Abusers to Face Harsher Sentences
NEW MEXICO - The family of Taegen McKinney has joined forces with other concerned citizens to plea for harsher penalties for those accused of serious child abuse. The boyfriend of 17-month-old Taegen McKinney's babysitter is accused of stomping the toddler to death. The family of the victim hopes to have new state legislation passed that would make it harder for child killers, such as McKinney's alleged killer, 18-year-old Jose Garcia to walk the streets free. Although Garcia was charged with abuse of a child resulting in death, tampering with evidence, and aggravated battery against a household member, he faces life in prison. He was in the San Juan County Detention Center for less than a day when a bondsman posted his $50,000 bail. The family wants him convicted of first-degree child abuse, resulting in death, she said. Sen. Steve Neville, R-Aztec has joined with the family to help create legislation for the 2008 Santa Fe session. (The Farmington Daily Times, June 15, 2007)

2007 Tennessee General Assembly
TENNESSEE - A number of bills failed to pass during first session of the 105th Tennessee General Assembly. Among the bills killed this session is HB0182/SB0511, BONDSMEN-FELONS. This bill would have allowed rehabilitated felons to become bail bondsmen. This bill, like other bills that lost this session, will not become laws this year, although it is possible that some could be returned for voting in the second session next year. (WMC-TV News, June 16, 2007)

Bucks County Considers Ways to Cut Jail Overcrowding
PENNSYLVANIA - Defense attorneys considering new legislation that would lessen judges' abilities to permit state prisoners to stay in county jails are noting that people who cannot afford bail cause more overcrowding than state inmates. The county has attempted to reduce bail for those who cannot pay. Recently, the county received a $190,000 grant to institute a pretrial diversion program. According to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the program will include a case manager and surveillance officer who will be able to oversee 50 inmates who will be under house arrest while getting treatment. (The Intelligencer, June 21, 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
click here to view all Bail Resource Center Events
Florida Surety Agents Association
FSAA Continuing Education
Uniform Criminal Extradition Act June 28, 2007 Winter Park, FL		Bail Motion Seminar July 17, 2007 Winter Park, FL
click here for details on FSAA Continuing Ed
Mississippi Bail Agents Association
MBAA Summer Meeting
July 6-7, 2007 Biloxi, MS
click here for details on all MBAA Meetings
North Carolina Bail Agents Association
NCBAA Pre-Licensing Classes
July 9-10, 2007 McKimmon Center Raleigh, NC
click here for details on NCBAA Pre-Licensing Classes
Professional Bondsmen of Texas
PBT Bail Bond Courses June 22-23, 2007 Austin, TX click here for details on PBT Bail Bond Courses