Bail Bonds: Oregon Legislators Get The Truth About Commercial Bail

Last Wednesday members of the Joint Judiciary Committee heard arguments on whether or not Oregon should install commercial bail bonding in that state.  Click on the following link to hear the complete audio file of this important bail bond industry testimony.

They had an opportunity to get the straight scoop when I, on behalf of The American Bail Coalition, rebutted the sour old tripe that had been disseminated by opponents to commercial bail. You know their drill: “The counties will lose money if commercial bail is allowed to write in Oregon.”

This was good, though, as it provided an opportunity to set the record straight on at least four ways the state and its political subdivisions would benefit economically under private sector bail bonding:

1. The opening of new businesses to purvey the product which, combined with their numerous employees, would add to the local and state tax bases,

2. Savings on county jail costs via release of inmates much faster than the average 15 days the pretrial service offices take before arranging a release,

3. Revenue realized by the counties from the payment of bail bond forfeitures, and

4. The premium taxes that would be paid on every bail bond posted.

In addition, the information from The United States Department of Justice was shared showing how over an eight year span judges across the nation have moved away from own recognizance releases by 17 %, away from deposit bail by almost 20% and toward commercial bail by 20%. The reasons why were also provided:

1. The obvious economic advantages,

2. The affordability of the product, and

3. The proven public safety enhancements.

If policy makers desire these benefits for their state, as a provider, commercial bail has no peer.

I'd like to quote the wise words of Edmund Burke, "A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation."

Jerryism #118
If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting.