Spotlight on Stacey Duvall

• January 25, 2010
• by Collateral Staff

[caption id="attachment_1546" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Stacey Duval, Laguna Beach California Bail Agent"][/caption]

How did you get started in the bail industry?
It's a family thing - women only. All the women on my Mom's side of the family own a bail agency. My mom Robbin Herren, my aunt Glenda Stroobant (who was the bail pioneer in our family), my grandmother Alma Gwinn (now happily retired), my cousins Crista Briggs & Michelle Armenta, and now the most recent addition, my younger sister Sandra Polk have all been involved in the industry. We have three generations of women bail bondsmen!

I was privileged enough to work and train alongside both my mom and aunt (my role models) between California & Arizona. I'm proud beyond words to have learned so much from these beautiful, intelligent, respected, clever, tough and entrepreneurial women. I'm lucky to be able to reach out to anyone of them for guidance or support at anytime.

What is the size of your agency/company?
I'm the sole owner and operator at this time, it allows me to give the personal attention to my clients they deserve. And, my surety has agents available to post bail throughout the United States, on my behalf.

What areas do you cover?
All of Orange County, concentrating on residents of South Beach Cities and specializing in Laguna Beach.

What associations do you belong to?
PBUS, NNA, NRA, National Wildlife Federation

What is your favorite aspect of the job?
Hands down, helping families! Most people who ask me about my profession don't typically think about bail bondsmen as helpful, but rather they see us as intimidating and shady. When I give them examples of appreciation and gratitude I've received, for what I consider doing my job, the response I usually get is, "yeah, I can see how that is rewarding!"

What other types of services do you offer?
24 Hour Notary, Licensed Bail Agent in Arizona & Civil Bonds

Do you employ a bounty hunter?
As needed. Bounty hunters can be expensive (unless you're married to one) so I do my best to write good bail in hopes of avoiding bounty services. But, as most of us know, it doesn't always work out that way. No matter how careful we are runners, jumpers and skippers come with the territory in this chosen profession we all love. If I feel my defendant is too dangerous for me, my husband and my bounty hunter DOG Kingston, (my friendly Rottweiler who kills with kisses) then I don't have a problem calling in the muscle. ?However, because I'm also a licensed fugitive recovery agent in California and Arizona I prefer to be involved as much as possible in the pursuit, tracking and arrest of my defendants. It's beneficial for me to talk to my defendants, and for them to see my face, before they back to jail.

What is the hardest part of your day-to-day business?
I can think of a couple:
1) Not getting one phone call all day, not even a prank call from the jail

2) And, the absolute hardest part of my day-to-day business, is not being able to attend or have to leave early from an important family function, or my son's volleyball match because I get a call. I know all bail agents can relate.

Are there any specific crimes in which you wouldn't post bail for the accused?
Absolutely not! This was a tough but important lesson taught to me by my mom: "Never turn down a bail, if you're uncomfortable increase your terms to eliminate your risk." ?This also reminds me of another case where I received a phone call from a friend informing me of an incident involving a mutual friend who was arrested, and he asked me not to bail him out... When I mentioned this call to my mom she said, "This is business, will he go to court or not?" Ultimately, the answer was yes. ??If I told the majority of people who called me for bail, that they can just stay in jail because I don't approve of their crime. I wouldn't be in business very long. I'm the bail bondsman, not the judge.

What is the mostexciting skip-trace you've encountered?
My skip trace story is not as much exciting as it is rewarding. After picking up my defendant who jumped bail and placing him back in custody to serve his time. I received a phone call from him after he was released a few months later thanking me for helping him get his life back on track. He told me about the warm reunion with his kid and family, he even made it home in time to welcome a new member to the family. He was literally in tears,saying that arresting him was one of the best things that could've happened to him at that time. I still receive phone calls from him every now and then letting me know how things are going. This is why I feel so good about what I do!

What initially drew you to advertise with AboutBail.com?
Easy!
1) I'm tired of dealing with less than honest phone book reps, overpaying and not seeing the return on my investment.
2) I asked a friend the other day where her phone book was and she said, "I don't have one, do people still use those?" Now, that really got me thinking...

What has your experience been with AboutBail.com?
So far, absolutely enlightening and motivating. I spent almost an hour on the phone with a very well informed rep, named Adam Camras, who gave me productive suggestions on how to improve my website functionality and rankings, he also provided useful marketing ideas and tips. After that phone call I was excited again about my business and became more passionate about increasing my online and community presence. AboutBail.com has provided me with excellent customer service, as well as reasonable pricing and fair terms. Advertising on AboutBail.com is definitely a better deal than the online phone book directories.

What advice would you give to someone who is just beginning in the bail bond industry?
1) If she's a female, never trust a male phone book representative!
2) Collateralize!
3) Be extra nice to the jailers and cashiers, and keep smiling!
4) Seriously, the best advice I could give is, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!

What did you wish you knew when first starting out?
How to trust my instincts more. It takes practice, practice, failure and more practice! I also wish I'd had a better understanding of the court processes - it definitely would have been helpful starting out.

Where do you see your business and the bail bond industry going in the future?
I envision the bail bond industry providing much needed assistance to our troubled criminal and jail systems. Perhaps bail agents would be given another avenue of assistance and income, whereby we're able to monitor non-violent offenders, on their dime of course, saving the tax payers lots of money. The alternative for the offender would be jail. The only way this would work, of course, is to ensure this option is open to all bail companies, and not contracted out to a single private company. I hope my business can be part of the "good fight" in moving the bail industry forward and ensuring the industry's place in our judicial process permanently.

Are you a glass half-full or half-empty kind of person?
Half-full! I try tosee the good in people, even when difficult. I'm a firm believer that it's never too late for anyone to turn their life around and grab a second chance at life. And when my cup runneth over, I like to think it's because I have a small part in that change for the better with every bond I post.

What do you look forward to every day working in the bail industry?
Hoping for the Million Dollar Bail Baby! ?Absolutely! Writing a million dollar bail would be both a feat as well as a BIG risk. I'm reminded again of another quote my oh-so wise aunt shares with me often, "Don't worry about the bail you don't write, worry about the ones you've written." What I really look forward to everyday is the chance to help a good person who made a bad choice, get out of jail and back on track. I truly see what I do as helping people, and there's nothing more rewarding than receiving a heartfelt thank you and hug, and even more rewarding when you get to hear from an old client now and again and hear about how good they're doing.

What do you enjoy outside of work?
I love spending time at home with my boys; my husband Jeff and almost 16 year-old stepson Kyle. Visiting my Mom and siblings in Arizona is another treat for me. I also enjoy my dogs, yoga, surfing, and my new found interest - guns!

What is your favorite quote?
"Never look down on anyone unless you're helping him up." - Jesse Jackson. This quote applies perfectly to the way I help my clients. Good people make poor choices, but still deserve to be treated with respect and compassion.

Stacey Duvall is a long-time resident of the bail industry and the owner/operator of Laguna Beach Bail Bonds. If you'd like to contact Stacey, email her at [email protected]. If you would like to be featured or know of a dynamic bail agent who should be included in Collateral Magazine, please email us at [email protected].