The Professional Bondsmen of Texas- Blog

In the last few months Representative Ann Johnson publicly called for Texas to get rid of bondsmen and replace the current system of release in Texas with the system referred to as "The New Jersey Plan."   On this episode learn what the New Jersey Plan is and how pretrial release is handled under this release system.   Our guest is Michelle Esquenazi who is a bondsman from New York.  Join us as we learn about a release/detain system that relies on an algorithm called a  risk assessment tool to make determinations about release.   To learn more about risk assessments visit the PBT website or go directly to one of the organizations pamphlets on the issue by CLICKING HERE . This is a great place to educate yourself about all things criminal justice reform/bail reform.  Educate yourself and join the debate. Also available on: Apple Podcasts-            CLICK HERE Spotify-                        CLICK HERE Google Podcasts-        CLICK HERE Amazon Music-          CLICK HERE Stitch

Accusations of fraud have surfaced in bail records linked to a man accused of killing his wife and the owner of a Houston bonding company whose office was searched earlier this year by local and federal law enforcement. Bail bondsman Sheba Muharib has alleged that two unidentified co-signers who defendant Curtis Holliday used in November 2021 to secure his release from the Harris County Jail were paid, according to recent court records. Holliday had been ordered held on a combined bail of $400,000 on two felony charges: murder and assault with continuous family violence. He paid 10 percent premium to Muharib’s Aable Bail Bonds to get out of jail, according to an affidavit of surety to surrender principal document. “We believe the defendant has provided fraudulent information in order to receive a bond,” Muharib wrote. “It has come to the attention of our insurance company that 2 of the defendant’s cosigners were paid in order to aid the bonding process. We were unaware of these circums

The next Guest on "The Bail Post" is James Lindblad.  He has been a bondsman in Hawaii for over 35 years.  He has witnessed many changes to the criminal justice system over the years.  Join us as we discuss HB 1567, its passage and the publics' response which caused the Governor of Hawaii to veto the bill. Mr. Lindblad suggests that the real fight was over the need for a new jail.  HB 1567 was the response of progressives so that a new jail would not be needed.  But law enforcement, business owners and the mayors of the four major islands banded together with social media to spread the message that releasing everyone was not working and that a change was needed.  The public responded.   Is the "woke" luau over in Hawaii?   James Lindblad is hopeful that more positive change is coming.   Also available on: Apple Podcasts-            CLICK HERE Spotify-                        CLICK HERE Google Podcasts-        CLICK HERE Podcast Index-            CLICK HERE Amazon

  Judges in Bexar County say they are open to making changes to help ensure people aren’t jailed here exclusively because they can’t afford bail, but they resoundingly rejected — and questioned the legality of — a celebrated reform plan recently enacted in Houston. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff convened area misdemeanor judges Tuesday, hoping they would agree to revisions similar to the ones adopted in Harris County. Under that plan, the vast majority of people charged with misdemeanors would qualify for release on no-cash bonds. Harris County’s previous system was declared unconstitutional for creating “wealth-based detention.” But misdemeanor judges here balked, arguing they don’t have the authority to make that call and that the Harris County plan may run afoul of state law. “There’s got to be a distinction between what we want as a matter of what’s right and fair, which is nobody should be held in jail because of lack of money — we’re all on board with that,” said County Court-at

  “Dems have a real problem,” a prominent Democratic lawmaker in New York City tells me. “Something I learned on this job is that if someone tells you they’re experiencing something, don’t waste your time telling them they’re not experiencing it.” The pol was talking about state Democrats’ instant rejection of Mayor Adams’ latest abrupt call for what would be a third round of rollbacks to the bill lawmakers originally passed in 2019 eliminating cash bail for many crimes. Adams, who won office on a promise to fairly restore a sense of safety, keeps asking for help as the crime numbers have mostly kept climbing on his watch. Even with murders and shootings down a bit so far this year from 2021, though still way up from 2019, his poll numbers have plummeted as 70% of New Yorkers say they feel less safe than they did before the pandemic while just 3% feel more safe. Eighty-five percent of New Yorkers and 91% of Black New Yorkers want more cops on trains. It’s a completely different story o

  Bo Dietl is ready to pack his bags and move to Florida if Gov. Hochul wins a full term in office in November. The former NYPD detective and failed mayoral candidate said he’s considering relocating to the Sunshine State on Wednesday as he unleashed a fiery endorsement of GOP gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin at a Manhattan rally. “If he doesn’t become the governor, I’m moving to Florida because I’m sick and tired of this governor and this state with these liberal values, bail reform, this is what we need,” Dietl said, ripping into Hochul as he introduced Zeldin outside of a Hamilton Heights bodega. The one-time Arby’s spokesman turned private investigator was joined by Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa as Zeldin and a phalanx his supporters hammered Hochul over crime and New York’s cashless bail system. The Long Island congressman chose Wednesday’s locale as a nod to Jose Alba, a bodega clerk initially charged with murder for fatally stabbing an attacker during an altercation ins

  Gov. Kathy Hochul doubled down on bail reform Monday, saying there is no evidence it has contributed to rising crime rates. Her remarks came on the day her Republican opponent, Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin, said reforms to solitary confinement rules led to an increase in attacks on corrections officers. Hochul was in Yonkers Monday for an official government event where she signed legislation. But during a question-and-answer session with reporters, she responded to new NYPD crime statistics that show the crime rate continues to move in the wrong direction. “Have you studied what’s happening in other cities across the nation?” Hochul asked. “Doesn’t make people feel real comfortable, but when you compare the number of cases per 100,000 — whether its different categories of crime, violent crime, shootings, homicides — we are still lower than major big cities.” According to the NYPD, overall crime was up more than 30% in New York City last month compared to the same period last year. Gr

  Bronx business owners are demanding more be done to fight crime in their community and they’re turning up the heat on New York lawmakers over bail reform.  It eliminates case bail for most nonviolent crimes. The business owners blame the rise in crime on repeat offenders. They claim it’s making it nearly impossible to do business in their neighborhoods. "We need Albany to stop the nonsense that they’re doing, give Mayor Adams back up get some help out here," said small business owner Mario DeGiorgio. One example of the problem is seen in a security video released by the NYPD showing robbers targeting Rocco‘s Jewelry Store on Webster Avenue in the Bronx last week. The first man held the door open as the others ran inside. New York City Police say it took 30 seconds for the intruders to get away with $2 million worth of merchandise. This hurts business owner Mario DiGiorgio, who is also a member of the Fordham Road Business Improvement District.  "I’m disgusted with what

On August 25, 2022 there will be a National Bail Reform Panel Discussion at the campus of Texas Southern University.  The event will start at 1 p.m.  Members of the panel include: Kim Ogg District Attorney for Harris County, Texas. Michelle Esquenazi noted bail bond queen from New York. Ken W. Good, attorney specializing in Bail Law and the host of The Bail Post podcast.  He is also a member of the board of directors of the Professional Bondsmen of Texas. The host for the event will be Ben Crump who is a renowned civil rights attorney.  The event is free to the public.  Come and be a part of the discussion.