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.