Bail Blotter: Philadelphia Considers Bail System Changes
- February 07, 2012
- by AboutBail Staff
- In the News
Each week AboutBail combs the web for the latest and most interesting industry news stories to bring you the Weekly Bail Blotter.
Philadelphia Considers Bail System Changes
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and others have been considering reforms to the Pennsylvania state bail system after a 2009 investigation by a newspaper revealed that the number of fugitives in the state was at 47,000, after rising steadily over the years. According to the investigative report, there is $1.5 billion in bail forfeitures owing as well. The committee considering the bail system has been asked to consider privatizing the bail system. Philadelphia got rid of its private bail system and bail bondsmen years ago after allegations of corruption in the system. District Attorney Seth Williams and president judge of Common Pleas Court Pamela Pryor Dembe have both spoken in favor of reforming the current system rather than privatizing bail.
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and others have been considering reforms to the Pennsylvania state bail system after a 2009 investigation by a newspaper revealed that the number of fugitives in the state was at 47,000, after rising steadily over the years. According to the investigative report, there is $1.5 billion in bail forfeitures owing as well. The committee considering the bail system has been asked to consider privatizing the bail system. Philadelphia got rid of its private bail system and bail bondsmen years ago after allegations of corruption in the system. District Attorney Seth Williams and president judge of Common Pleas Court Pamela Pryor Dembe have both spoken in favor of reforming the current system rather than privatizing bail.
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Delegate Seeks More Secured Bail Bonds
ANNAPOLIS , MD -- Delegate Michael Hough wants new legislation that would ensure that those charged with serious crimes would be compelled to attend their court dates. Hough says he wants to close a loophole that allows those charged with serious offenses to be released simply with a promise to return for a court date. According to Hough, some defendants – even those charged with child molestation and other serious crimes – are released on unsecured bail while others have bail denied or have bail set high. Hough wants to see a law which would require all defendants accused of a serious crime to put up a bail bond before being released.
ANNAPOLIS , MD -- Delegate Michael Hough wants new legislation that would ensure that those charged with serious crimes would be compelled to attend their court dates. Hough says he wants to close a loophole that allows those charged with serious offenses to be released simply with a promise to return for a court date. According to Hough, some defendants – even those charged with child molestation and other serious crimes – are released on unsecured bail while others have bail denied or have bail set high. Hough wants to see a law which would require all defendants accused of a serious crime to put up a bail bond before being released.
To read the full article, click here.
Upset Grows Over No Bail Rulings
WICHITA, KS -- Kansas bail bondsmen are angry that some criminal suspects in the state are being released without having to pay bail. Bondsmen claim that the move is a threat to public safety, since defendants who have not had to pay bail have few financial motives for appearing at court dates. However, judges and other experts in the court system are claiming that releasing defendants without bail is safe and is saving the state a great deal of money on incarceration. KAKE News will run an investigative piece about the story this week.
WICHITA, KS -- Kansas bail bondsmen are angry that some criminal suspects in the state are being released without having to pay bail. Bondsmen claim that the move is a threat to public safety, since defendants who have not had to pay bail have few financial motives for appearing at court dates. However, judges and other experts in the court system are claiming that releasing defendants without bail is safe and is saving the state a great deal of money on incarceration. KAKE News will run an investigative piece about the story this week.
To read the full article, click here.
Should Attorneys Be Bondsmen?
TARRANT COUNTY, TX -- The Tarrant County bail bond board is looking into cases where people have accused lawyers of acting as bondsmen. According to the board, people have accused some attorneys of bonding then out jail and then pressuring them to hire them for legal representation. According to District Clerk Tom Wilder, who is also vice chairman of the Tarrant County bail bond board, has stated that very few states besides Texas allow attorneys to bail defendants out of jail, and he is concerned about this role.
TARRANT COUNTY, TX -- The Tarrant County bail bond board is looking into cases where people have accused lawyers of acting as bondsmen. According to the board, people have accused some attorneys of bonding then out jail and then pressuring them to hire them for legal representation. According to District Clerk Tom Wilder, who is also vice chairman of the Tarrant County bail bond board, has stated that very few states besides Texas allow attorneys to bail defendants out of jail, and he is concerned about this role.
To read the full article, click here.
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