Saturday, December 25, 2010

NPR Honored For Bail Bonds Coverage

The issue of pre trial release programs is one that seems to consistently be at the forefront of the bail bonds industry. The 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award for excellence in broadcast journalism is being bestowed upon NPR news for their work on the controversial issue of bail bonds and pre trial release programs. NPR did a three part investigative journalism series which was critical of the cost and process involved in the bail bonds industry.

The NPR series looked at possible inequalities in the utilization of bail bonds, treatment of clients based on socio economic factors and unseen costs to American taxpayers.

Specfically, questions were raised if the overcrowding issues facing American jails would be different if the bail bonds process wasn't so profit driven. The piece noted that many defendants are incarcerated for numerous non violent crimes because they can not afford relatively small bail amounts. They put that cost at aprox. $9 billion annually.

They are quick to identify the bail bonds industry as an impediment to improving the overcrowding problem in our jails. Citing the bail bonds industry consistent opposition to pre trial release programs, the NPR series suggests a wider application of pre trial release programs, while unpopular with bail bondsmen, may be key to reducing taxpayers costs and overcrowding in jails.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Judge Impeached Over Bail Bonds Corruption

U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous of Louisiana was convicted by the Senate on four articles of impeachment. That marks just the eigth time in US history a federal judge has been removed from the bench by Congress.

Prosecutors alledged that drinking problems and gambling woes lead the judge to take money from bail bondsmen and lawyers of cases for which he was presiding. In addition, he was accused of using a false name to file for bankruptcy and lying to Congress during his judicial confirmation.

Louis Marcotte, a New Orleans bail bondsman, testified that he provided meals, vacations and other items of value to the judge. In return, the judge was said to have raised bail amounts which resulted in higher bail bondsman fees for Marcotte.