CA Bail Agents Claim Sheriff Allows Gangs to Control Bail

• March 02, 2009
• by Collateral Staff

Three California bail agents have filed a legal claim, usually the first step in a lawsuit, against Orange County, California. The bail agents claim that the Sheriff's Department has been allowing gang members inside the prisons to direct inmates to certain bail agencies who then give money back to the gang.

This practice, known as "capping," has lost other bail agencies $100 million a year, according to the agents filing the legal claim. The agents claim that this "capping" scheme began with the former sheriff Michael S. Corona and continued under the current sheriff, Sharon Hutchens.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department has released a statement that it will review the claims and decide if an investigation is necessary.