The Professional Bondsmen of Texas- Blog

Jim Quinn is a former assistant district attorney in Queens, New York.  His family has lived in New York for four generations.  Jim was on the front lines as New York passed bail reform through the the budget bill in 2019 and when it went into effect in January 2020.  Jim has written numerous articles about the New York bail reform and its impact on crime.  On this episode of The Bail Post we look back at 5 years under the New York bail reform law including the three roll backs by the New York legislature.  Join us and find out whether these reforms have been a success or whether they have been a failure.  Audio Podcast- Also available on- Apple Podcasts-            CLICK HERE Spotify-                        CLICK HERE Google Podcasts-        CLICK HERE Podcast Index-            C...

 CALL TO ACTION NO. 1- HB 799     DATE-  MARCH 18, 2025 TEXAS CAPITAL- AUSTIN, TEXAS  9:00 AM TO 11 AM This is PBT's first Call to Action for the 2025 Legislative Session. The Criminal Jurisprudence Committee in the House will be meeting on March 18, 2025 to consider various bail bills.  The committee will meet at 10:30 am to take public testimony on bills set for consideration. If the committee does not complete its hearing at the time that the Texas House goes into session, then the committee will take a break and reconvene after the House business is complete for the day. The committee will be considering 5 bail bills. These bills are: HB 75 by Smithee (SB 9)- Supported by PBT- This bill contains tweaks to the Bail Reform bill passed 2 sessions ago. It adds offenses to the list of charges to which a personal bond is not authorized. HB 76 by Smithee (SB 40)- Supported by PBT- This bill states that government funds cannot be given to charitable bail fund t...

by Paul Vallas To refer to Chicago as a haven for criminals is an understatement. Today, despite Mayor Brandon Johnson’s pious announcements to the contrary, Chicago remains one of the most dangerous cities in America. While there are underlying causes of crime — such as failing schools, underinvestment, and weak economic possibilities — that the city has failed to address, the undeniable truth is that there are fewer and fewer consequences for increasingly serious crimes. Meanwhile, a powerful "Criminal Industrial Complex" profits from this system — one that makes Chicagoans and visitors less safe every day. Chicago is the crime capital of the nation, leading all U.S. cities in both murders and mass  shootings year after year. If Chicago were a state, it would rank second only to California in  mass shootings. In 2023, 76 school-age children (17 years and younger) were  urdered in Chicago — more  than in any other city. Chicago also leads the nation in murders ...

New York City judges are allowing violent offenders back on the streets at an alarming rate, according to an analysis by the New York Post. Queens Criminal Court Judge Wanda Licitra, who was appointed by former mayor Bill DeBlasio, released 29 out of 34 (85%) of alleged violent felons between January to June 2024, according to the analysis, which examined 96 judges who handled at least 25 cases over the six-month window. Licitra, a former Legal Aid Society attorney who took the bench in 2021, has reportedly garnered a reputation for letting violent criminals walk free. In February 2022, she released Frank Abrokwa, who was accused of shoving his own excrement into a Bronx female subway rider’s face. Abrokwa was freed without bail even after wailing "f--k you bitch" at the judge in a courtroom tirade. To see more CLICK HERE .

  New Hampsire- Gov. Kelly Ayotte and leaders from across the state are pushing for a bail reform bill that lawmakers are voting on Thursday. According to the governor, the bill will make changes to the 2018 bail law that has been criticized for  letting too many violent and re-offending criminals back on the streets. “This has brought everyone together, unfortunately, because we have seen and I've heard so much about the issues we've had with bail creating a revolving door that is putting our law enforcement in danger, that is putting average citizens  who are just trying to live their lives in this amazing state in danger,” Ayotte said. To see more CLICK HERE .

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo stood by the Empire State’s controversial bail reforms Sunday,  telling reporters after a mayoral campaign stop at a Harlem church that, “It righted a terrible social  wrong.” Cuomo, 67, has become the front-runner since throwing his hat into the race to unseat Mayor Eric  Adams, playing largely on his performance during his 11 years as the state’s chief executive —  including the criminal justice reforms that lawmakers passed on his watch. To see more CLICK HERE . Cumo is trying to thread the needle by being seen as tough on crime but still support the failed bail reform passed by his party.

  On this episode of The Bail Post, we discuss the major bail bills pending before the Texas Legislature.  There are two proposed constitutional amendments:  SJR 1 and SJR 5.  There are also two bills:  SB 9 and SB 40.   SJR 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that states if you are charged with a felony and you are in Texas illegally and did not enter a port of entry properly, then you are not entitled to bail.  The House companion is HJR 16. SJR 5 is a proposed constitutional amendment to expand preventative detention to give judges the discretion to deny bail for certain third time felons.  The House companion is HJR 15. SB 40 states that no government funds may be given to a non-profit for the purposes of posted bail by a charitable bail fund.  The House companion is HB 76. SB 9 is a major bill that made up of changes to the bail process, adds new charges to the list of offenses to which no personal bond may be granted and makes...