Surprising was the $1.7 million in taxpayer funds that it takes to screen, release and supervise defendants out on the county’s pretrial release program. You would want to balance that against bail bonds: cost to the tax payer Zero ($0.00).

Pretrial release has a purpose which is codified by law: to help the indigent who have no prior record and are accused of non-violent crimes. Again, balance that with our prior post on Van Nuys Jail “Bail vs. O.R.” Clearly, that person wasn’t indigent – he had the means to be bailed out.

Here’s some of what Accredited had to say (bold emphasis added by me):

Many offenders released through a pretrial release program are financially capable of posting a bail bond, and many have done so in the past. Why should taxpayer funds be used to release an arrested individual who has the means to do so themselves? Why not utilize such taxpayer funds to release truly indigent individuals arrested for non-violent, first-time offenses, as was the original intent of pretrial release programs? Why are your tax dollars being used to compete with private enterprise that does a more effective and efficient job of supervising defendants released from jail?

Promoting a dangerous taxpayer-funded release system that offers little to minimal supervision, while attacking the private surety bail industry with hundreds of years of success behind it, highlights government bureacracy at its best! Not only are taxpayers continually being asked to open up their wallets and spend more on government services, but now another bureacratic organization, the National Association of Counties (NACo), is also asking for you to spend more. NACo “represents” county governments nationwide, and is promoting to county elected officials to create or expand their taxpayer-funded pretrial release systems because money bail is wrong.

Public organizations using taxpayer funds should be accountable for the wise use of such funds and transparent in their effectiveness or non-effectiveness. Taxpayer-funded release systems are neither financially or physically accountable for defendants released under such programs; no one is physically keeping in contact with a defendant and/or their family and making sure the defendant appears for court. In addition, pretrial release programs receive no financial penalty if a defendant fails to appear for court. Your tax dollars are funding the program regardless.

Taxpayer-funded pretrial release programs are complaining that they must provide to the public detailed information on the defendants released through their programs; they say such requests are burdomesome and time consuming. Are they afraid of being transparent by providing proof of their effectiveness? National studies have shown the ineffectiveness of unsecured release and thus why such programs fight against transparency.

Don’t be fooled by their rhetoric or claims of helping their communities by releasing people who have a “right” to unsecured release. The real issue is the lack of public safety and potential danger our communities face when defendants are released back into our communities with no accountability for their actions. Public agencies using taxpayer funds should be transparent and open to providing the most effective services possible. Taxpayer-funded pretrial release programs have been shown time and time again to be ineffective by having the highest failure to appear and fugitive rates. Money bail has worked for hundreds of years because it is effective and accountable to the criminal justice system.

Public policy affects public safety.

Sometimes an officer’s reaction to a potentially dangerous situation is pretty clear cut.  Wading into fights, stopping domestic violence, and running across wanted suspects often requires a stronger response  than the spoken word. But an officer who is too hasty to jump to conclusions only serves to fan the fires of police-distrust, especially among minorities. 

Reportedly, several hundred times a year, small interactions between  San Jose Police and the public, like jay walking or failing to signal in traffic, turn violent.  Even more surprising: it’s being alleged that it is the police who strike the first blow.  While many continue to debate whether or not the officers’ actions are excessive, detractors say the San Jose Police Department  routinely dismisses complaints and limits real public investigation — strong and reaching allegations.

In 2007, over 117 complaints about the use of excessive force during resisting arrest were filed in San Jose, but the department sustained just two cases.  A Santa Clara County civil grand jury report cited widespread community concern about racial profiling in San Jose.  It concluded that citizens feel too discouraged by the city’s rubber-stamp rejection of their complaints  to continue reporting perceived officer  misconduct.

The San Jose Mercury News recently investigated a cell phone video exposing a particularly nasty confrontation between police, who allegedly struck college student, Phuong Ho, with batons and then Tasered him.  The officers said Ho resisted arrest but the video tape showed otherwise.

Former county prosecutor, Terry Bowman, who represents one officer in the Phuong Ho case, challenged the Mercury News‘ claims, saying the cases she reviewed displayed an “evenhanded attempt [by officers] to get suspects to toe the line.”  Bowman insists that the high numbers of resisting arrest cases reveal nothing more than “good public safety-based law enforcement.”

Since then, 206 similar court cases have been counted.   According to the Mercury, San Jose charges far more people with resisting arrest, compared with its population, than any other major city in California.  These alarming figures have prompted the San Jose Police Department to officially investigate the situation.  They now say they have developed the most detailed picture of  San Jose Police use of force — ever.  But at what cost to the taxpayer?  Thanks to the department’s dodgy track record, defendants who challenge resisting arrest charges usually succeed.  The city has already paid out $861,778 to settle ten lawsuits that charge local officers with this crime.

And there still isn’t any uniform method of reporting excessive police force.  Since no state agency requires these cases to be reported, comparisons with other cities cannot easily be made.

San Jose Police Department officials say their officers use force only as a last resort  to protect themselves and others during an altercation.  Officers are expected to  try verbal warnings and persuasion, first.  San Jose will be the first in the country to test a new device that records sound and picture of their interactions with the public.  Academy recruits also receive more than 100 hours of training about the use of force and they get a refresher course every two years.

Still, in many real life situations, police only have split-seconds to make decisions about how much force is reasonable — and what ‘reasonable’ means to others.  Resisting arrest allegations, more than many other crime, pit their word of police officers against the word of defendants.  Mix in heightened emotions, and opinions will vary to a huge degree.

Photocredit: © Mehmed Zelkovic – Fotolia.com

After the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol in his vehicle, they requested he take a breathalyzer test.  The South American basketball star didn’t have much to say after that. He was booked into jail on DUI charges and released from a Sacramento jail early Thursday morning on bail.

Upon the 29-year-old Argentinan star’s release, he issued an apology stating, “I want to apologize to the Kings organization, my teammates, my coaches, the fans, the city of Sacramento and my family…  Drinking and driving is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. I made a mistake and I’m very sorry for my lapse in judgement.”

The Kings basketball president of operations, Geoff Petrie, stated, “We will wait for the outcome of the judicial process and the NBA’s decision on potential fines and-or suspension.”

In 379 career games over six seasons, Nocioni’s average has been 11.8 points and 5.0 rebounds. Let’s stand by and see how Nocioni rebounds from this sports career setback.

With this new offer, Polanski and his attorney’s have requested the Swiss Court reverse the government decision which declines his bail all together. However, they continue to turn down his appeals, stating his flight risk is “still too high.”  Polanski still holds citizenship in both France and Poland.

The amount of the recent offer made to the Swiss Criminal Court was not made public, however the Justice Ministry reportedly stated the offer was turned down because it lacked the cash to ‘guarantee the transaction’ — even though, Polanski included several guarantees he would not flee if he was released.

To add a cherry-on-top, Polanski graciously offered collateral in the form of his Swiss ski resort chalet in Gstaad as part of the deal. Unfortunately, that didn’t hold any water as the offer was ‘not up to par’ with legal requirements. Legal experts in Switzerland state there is little hope he will be released without a strong cash guarantee.

Cut to December 10th, 2009 which is the date the California Second Court of Appeal will hear arguments which involve the 1977 dismissal of Polanski’s sexual assault charges. Polanski’s attorneys want the Los Angeles presiding judge to rule on their dismissal petition, without Mr. Polanski having to be present in court. 

Meanwhile, Polanski’s detention could last for months while he continues to make appeals to the Swiss Criminal and Supreme Courts against his U.S. extradition.

We’ll all have to hold on to our seats to find out how this ride will eventually play out for Mr. Polanski.

The drug discovery lead to John’s arrest and a £150 fine. (That’s about $250 American dollars today). John’s arrest papers have now surfaced revealing the details of the drug bust.

The following year, George Harrison’s home was raided while he was at Sir Paul McCartney’s wedding to his beloved Linda. Same Detective.  Same story. George was later arrested and fined.

You see, Detective Pilcher was targeting rock and roll’s most famous. He resented their lifestyles and wanted to take them all down. His roster of take-downs  also included Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton. Mean Mr. Mustard.

However, the Officer Krupsky’s of the world sometimes need a UFC take down of their own.  He was later convicted of corruption and perjury then sent to the British slammer. Can’t Buy Me Love.

Cut to the present, where the original papers from the Lennon / Harrison drug arrests are now up for auction. If you’re interested in owning a little history from the fab four, the online auction is happening today, October 29th, 2009. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.

According to the Bristol Harold Currier, three people are charged with abduction, robbery, impersonating a law enforcement officer, conspiracy and sexual battery and a fourth is charged as an accessory after they posed as drug enforcement agents and pulled a woman from her car, hand-cuffed her, strip searched her and turned her over to Mullins. This is behavior that reputable bounty hunters wouldn’t engage in.

As we reported back in July, Mullins was previously in the spotlight with his son the magistrate. The pair were suspected in bail wrong-doing where the father was writing bonds for bail approved by the son.

Mullins is now under investigation by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, which licenses bail bondsmen. I, for one, hope they not only yank his license, but also throw the book at him criminally – jail and large fines would be good. I’m tired of unethical bondsmen in this industry’s spotlight.

A Florida man couldn’t finish shaving before he was arrested and booked. Willie Geist has the story and the mugshot. Maybe I’m giving this guy too much credit, but I’m thinking this shave job has to be related to Halloweeen. What do you think?

This scary Halloween package is offered at Boston cities’, Charles Street Jail.  Famous people have had their stay there, including Mayor James Michael Curley and “Catch Me If You Can,” Frank Abagnale Jr.  The old jail was closed by court order as being “too unfit for prisoners.”

Cut to the present, and after a $120 million dollar renovation, the jail was later named the “Liberty Hotel” and re-opened in 2007 to all vacationers.  This stay is not for the fainthearted or timid however. The decor boasts brick walled cells and some may catch the glimpse of  a ghost of an old inmate. People to this day still report seeing strange phenomena.

Based on double occupancy, one  night in this jail cell turned swanky hotel room will set you back around $375.  Just make sure you don’t get room 1408, or you may never leave. . .  Boo!

these days, too many clients are asking for bail without the required collateral, such as a home or a car, diminishing bail bondsmen’s customer base. And not helping matters is a new policy by Marion County judges setting less expensive cash bonds for minor offenses…

Couple the economic situation with other “solutions” being offered in terms of bail. I hear talk of temporily lowering the bail schedule to allow more people in California to post bail. Huh? The bail schedule is set by judges based on public safety and flight risk. Lower it?  

Add to this jail overcrowding causing manditory releases, out of control pre-trial release (known as release on ”own recognizance” which is intended for the indigent) and so-called “cash bail” on your credit card. 

“We wanted to make sure we are not setting our bonds so high that we are overcrowding our jail,” said Marion Superior Court Judge Robert Altice Jr. of Indiana. How about public safety?

Last December, I spoke with Tony Castro of the Los Angeles Daily News. He asked me how the bail business has changed in the downturned economy. My answer today would be much the same as then: people still need bail bonds. However, the willingness to pay $1000 or $5000 is definately restricted. In better economic times, people had jobs that they needed to go to, so they would bail out. In better economic times, spending money is easier.

All that said, is the bail industry going under? Well, I can only speak for this company and say, not yet! Treading water at times, maybe, but not going under. As an industry, however, bail agents need to stay aware of the climate. Bail is a right and bondsmen help maintain the system that is free to the taxpayers.

Stephanie attended  Holly Montag’s 26th birthday party at one of Hollywood’s trendy night clubs. Allegedly, she was driving home at 3:45 am when she was apprehended.

For those of you who keep up with our celebrity arrest blogs, you’ll recall  that Jason Wahler, another star from “The Hills” was arrested earlier this month in Yakima County for assault and drinking charges.