Bail Blotter: Philadelphia to Take Action Regarding Fugitives
- April 15, 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 to Take Action About Fugitives
PHILADELPHIA, PA – The criminal court system in Philadelphia is altering the way it handles fugitives. The state Supreme Court will set up a special court system to handle defendants who skip one or more court dates. The Bench Warrant Court will impose penalties on those who do not appear for court dates, and those who skip repeated court dates will face escalating penalties, including jail time. In addition, the system will change its pretrial release program, in part by relaxing the ban on Philadelphia bondsmen, a ban that has been in place since the 1960s. The changes are meant to reduce the number of fugitives in the city. According to one report, in 2010 alone Philadelphia was owed more than $1 billion in bond forfeitures and had over 47 000 fugitives.
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EBT Cards and Bail
BOSTON, MA – EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards are popularly used across the state for cash aid and to replace paper food stamps. The cards can be used to pay for food and some contain a specific amount of cash that can be used for miscellaneous expenses. Kimball Clark was recently reported for trying to use his EBT card to post his bail after being arrested for drug-related offenses. The case has sparked wide-spread debate about the correct use and the possible abuse of EBT cards. Although there are restrictions regarding where EBT cards can be used, Rep. Shaunna O'Connell failed in her attempt to get bondsmen on the list of businesses that are not allowed to accept EBT cards.
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Bondsman Helps Find Teen
HELENA, MT – Annette Park and Larry Park have been arrested and accused of felony parental interference in a bizarre case. Annette Park reported her teenage son had run away over a month ago. Her estranged husband hired a bail bondsman to find his son. The bondsman determined that the boy was likely at Larry Park’s home and alerted authorities. Police found the boy hiding in a closet at Larry Park’s home. The boy was turned over to Child Protective Services.
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Titus County Bail Bond Board Names Six Approved Bail Bond Companies
TITUS COUNTY, TX – On the first of April, the Titus County Bail Bond Board implemented the last stage of its initial program by putting into effect a list of approved bondsmen for the area. The Titus County Bail Bond Board has now approved six bail bond companies in Titus County. These include AAA Bail Bonds, AAA Out of State and Local Bail Bonds, Nancy Davis Bail Bonds, Brison & Brison Bail Bonds II, McGill Bail Bond, and Fast Freedom Bail Bonds.
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Bounty Hunter Bill Approved
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — The House unanimously approved Senate Bill 1872, which will require bounty hunters in the state to be licensed to work in Oklahoma. The proposed legislation would implement the Bail Enforcement and Licensing Act, which would require bounty hunters to get training and five years of experience before getting licensed by Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. The bill now goes to the full House for approval.
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Animated Bounty Hunters Coming to TV Soon
LOS ANGELES, CA – It seems that TV audiences and networks can’t get enough shows about bounty hunters. CMT has just picked up a new show, Bounty Hunters. The animated comedy will feature the voices of Larry the Cable Guy, Jeff Foxworthy, and Bill Engvall. Muse Entertainment and Parallel Entertainment are behind the show, which will look at the adventures of three men who run a bounty hunting business.
To read the full article, click here.
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