Tag: <span>Elmwood Jail</span>

Elmwood Jail

Santa Clara County Correctional Facility in Milpitas, California

Also known as Elmwood jail, has facilities for minimum- and medium-security men and women. GoMilpitas.com, where you are now, is NOT related to the jail, but is a resource for those with relatives incarcerated there.

Fentanyl overdoses reported at Santa Clara County jails
One inmate died Saturday at the Main Jail; 13 others at Elmwood Correctional Facility were treated at area hospitals

SAN JOSE – As the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office contends with a spike in fentanyl overdoses at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, the medical examiner-coroner’s office has identified a 44-year-old inmate who died after apparently coming into contact with the opioid last week at the Main Jail in San Jose.

Deputies at the Main Jail were conducting welfare checks around 8:20 a.m. on March 11 when they found 44-year-old Roland Wrigley unresponsive on the floor of his cell, Sgt. Michael Low said in a statement.

Wrigley was given CPR as well as Narcan, a medicine used to counteract an opioid overdose, but he was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, Low said.

The in-custody death follows a “substantial amount” of fentanyl overdoses last week at the Elmwood Correctional Facility, Low said. The first two cases were reported on March 8, with a total of 13 inmates eventually being treated at hospitals.

COVID vaccinations to expand for jailed, unhoused people in Santa Clara County
PUBLISHED: February 25, 2021 at 1:36 p.m. | UPDATED: February 25, 2021 at 1:38 p.m.
Expansion occurs alongside various Bay Area efforts to ramp up vaccine access in jails, encampments, homeless shelters.
Santa Clara County, however, is going beyond that, moving into Phase 1B, Tier 2 of the state’s vaccination priority framework, which offers broad vaccine eligibility to incarcerated and unhoused people, as supplies allow.

Santa Clara County inmates report unsafe conditions, go on hunger strike as COVID-19 cases soar
Surge of coronavirus cases surfaced this week in a single housing unit, authorities and inmates confirm
PUBLISHED: January 16, 2021
Inmates in Santa Clara County’s jails are on a hunger strike as cases of COVID-19 rage through the correctional system amid reports of unsanitary, unsafe and cruel conditions.
As of Jan. 14, there were 109 active cases of COVID-19 among county inmates, a slight dip from a high of 127 earlier in the week.
The report included first-person stories from those inside the jails detailing unsafe and negligent conditions.
“(I am housed in a) dorm setting at M-8-C Elmwood. There are approximately 65 beds and approximately 61 beds full,” said one anonymous inmate in the report. “Last week, every bed was full. The bunks are 2 1/2 feet apart. No room at all for social distancing – if your neighbor coughs, it goes right in your face.”

Covid-19 Concerns at Elmwood Jail

Can I visit an inmate during the Covid-19 shutdown?
All scheduled and future social visits are cancelled and will be re-evaluated on 5/31/20. However, the Sheriff’s Office has collaborated with GTL to gift each inmate two 5-minute phone calls per week; effective 3/17/20 to 5/31/20. To be reviewed prior to 5/31/20.

Bay Area jail numbers down, but urgency persists over COVID-19 danger
Inmate, attorney, correctional officer accounts continue to illustrate struggles to enforce safe distancing and increased sanitation, contrary to officials’ statements

Coronavirus: Mass jail, prison releases leave some Bay Area inmates on the streets
PUBLISHED: To reach those people, Andy Gutierrez, a Santa Clara County deputy public defender, has been spending hours at a table outside the Elmwood Correctional Complex in Milpitas, handing out masks, hand sanitizer, snacks and information to people leaving the jail. Every day he’s there, Gutierrez, other activists and county Reentry Services staff meet newly released inmates who have nowhere to stay, he said.

Elmwood Jail

How do I find information on an inmate?

Find an Inmate
To obtain inmate booking information you must provide the Person File Number (PFN) or Booking Number (CEN), or Name, and Date of Birth or Booking Date of the inmate.

How to send money to someone at Elmwood
There are several ways to deposit money in inmates’ accounts.

My Family Member Has Been Arrested – What Do I Do?
A practical guide on what to do if your family member or friend has been arrested in Santa Clara County, and has a mental health and/or addiction diagnosis.

What time do inmates get released from Elmwood?

A majority of inmates are released because their time has been served. They are free to leave, pending processing, at 12:01 A.M. of their release date, provided they have prearranged transportation. The Elmwood staff releases inmates at 12:01 A.M.

About the Elmwood Jail

Department of Correction
DOC operates three major institutions, the Main Jail, the Elmwood Correctional Facility and the Correctional Center for Women.

Elmwood Jail
This is one of two facilities operated by the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections. It includes the Men’s Correctional Facility and the Correctional Center for Women (CCW).  The Elmwood complex houses minimum and medium security inmates at 701 South Abel, Milpitas.

Elmwood Jail – Contact Information & Map
Address, phone numbers, directions and map.

Elmwood Jail – Outreach Programs
Education, training, ministries, and other outreach programs at both the men’s and women’s facilities.

Daily Jail Population Statistics
Updated daily at 5AM.

Visitors Information
Check this link for information about how to visit with inmates in both the men’s and women’s facility.

Bail Bonds

Bail Bondsmen – San Francisco Bay Area
Do you know what a bail bond or bail bondsman is? There are a several ways of explaining bail bonds and how a person in jail can get out of jail.

Tales of Elmwood

History confined in jail
Elmwood jail and Milpitas have had a long and turbulent relationship. The jail has gone through several reincarnations: first as a rich man’s mansion, then as a homeless shelter, and then a jail.

Yelp Reviews of Elmwood Jail by Visitors and Inmates
“The food is a little better but, man! Food is one reason to stay out of jail if you like good food.”
“3 meals a day a bed to sleep in. Even got a TV was livin’ like a king for free. Now i spend 80 bucks a day for the same s**t minis on TV. When I need to vacation, I’ll take a trip back. Gotta love the ranch.”
“What can I say? This place has got to be the most affordable resort in the South Bay region! Free lodging, free food, and extra clothes! What a deal!!”

Who’s Been In Elmwood?

This new feature will be updated as news stories appear about notorious inmates incarcerated in Elmwood Jail. Be aware of the dates. I’m never told when these folks leave the jail, only when they enter.

Lawyers, Attorneys & Legal Advisors in Milpitas

GoMilpitas.com does not endorse any of these lawyers. The materials on this page are presented for informational and promotional purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content in these links without seeking appropriate legal advice regarding your own particular facts and circumstances from an attorney licensed to practice law in your state.

Apoyo Legal Migrante Asociado
The specific purpose of our organization is to provide legal advice, education, and services to immigrants and the legal community. We specialize in serving low-income immigrants and charge below market rate fees. We offer family-based immigration advice and practice.
Sobrato, 534 Valley Way A
Milpitas, CA 95035
650-964-4966

Capillas at Law
We specialize in assisting our clients to not only understand their legal options but also to find legal solutions.  Our firm does not engage in litigation. What we provide is legal consultation in specific areas of law that deal with real estate, estate planning, or immigration.
354 Fairview Way
Suite C
Milpitas, CA 95035
408-408-941-0535

Keyes Law Group
The Keyes Law Group can provide the answers and solutions you need. We have more than 10 years of experience dealing with life’s complexities so you do not have to bear the burden alone. We are here to help.
500 E. Calaveras Boulevard, Suite 323
408-444-7019

Gopal Krishan, Law Office
An attorney licensed in California. He practices immigration law, Family laws and Estate Planning. He is also a lawyer in India. He does not complicate things and believes in straight answers. To provide the best legal service to the esteemed clients, he also has an office in New Delhi, India.
1649 S Main St #105
Milpitas, CA 95035
510-600-3083

Maydanik Law Firm
San Jose Bankruptcy Attorney is focused on making the law work for you.
Whether you live in San Jose or San Francisco, Oakland or Fremont, Santa Cruz or Gilroy, our Milpitas, Northern San Jose office is just a short drive away for a One Hour Consultation with our Bay Area Bankruptcy Attorney!
1525 McCarthy Blvd #1000
Milpitas, CA 95035
408-673-0111

Nancy R. Reed Attorney
Personal Injury, Family and Tax Lawyer. She will provide services in divorce, custody, support, guardianship, wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, power of attorney, conservatorships, elder law, and business and contracts.
133 S Main St
Milpitas, CA 95035
408-262-7992

Tacinco Law Offices
Provides efficient and dependable legal solutions in all areas of U.S. immigration law on a federal level for clients that may be resident of other States as well. TLO specializes in family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, temporary work visas, removal/deportation defense and naturalization.
500 E Calaveras Blvd #250
Milpitas, CA 95035 (Home base is in San Francisco. Branch office in Milpitas.)
415-397-0808

Inmates Injured Following Fights at Elmwood Jail in Milpitas

Injuries are reported following two large-scale fights involving inmates at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

Several inmates have been transported to a hospital for treatment and no injuries are considered life threatening, sheriff’s officials said, adding no deputies were hurt during the incidents.

Sources within the jail tell NBC Bay Area at least one of the fights took place around 4:30 p.m. in an area called “the camp.” The sources also said deputies had to set up a medical triage area for injured inmates.

Crime Fighting

Ways to fight, prevent and report crimes in Milpitas, CA.

Alerts
All Point Bulletins
Being a Kid is Not a Crime
Consumer Services
Crime Victim Resources
Data & Statistics
Documents & Forms
Domestic Violence
Fraud
Identity Theft
Jails-Correctional Facilities
Laws
Lawyers
Legal Institutions
Megan’s Law
Prevention
Sex Crimes
Spam

Milpitas Citizens Online Police Reporting System

Please confirm the following to find out if online citizen police report filing is right for you:

  • This is not an Emergency?
  • This incident occurred within the Milpitas City limits?
  • There are No Known suspects?
  • This did not occur on a State Freeway?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you are ready to file your report online.

If you do not wish to be anonymous, you may call 408-586-2400

Crime Tip Hotline
To report crimes anonymously to the Milpitas Police:
Call 408-586-2500 or click the link above to report with online form.

Milpitas Youth Crime Activity Lead Line
Reward of $100 if report leads to an arrest:
(866) 276-5463

Milpitas Police Department
1275 North Milpitas Blvd.,
Milpitas, California 95035 
Main Phone: 408-586-2400

Contacting Milpitas Police
Crime Tip Line – 408-586-2500
Neighborhood Watch Info – 408-586-2525

Alerts

Scam Alerts
GoMilpitas.com provides information to consumers and small businesses about how to recognise, avoid and report ongoing scams.

Utility Scam Alert
There was one such scam reported in Milpitas recently so I wanted to share with you the information on the flyer. Please share the flyer with your neighbors.

All Point Bulletins

City of Milpitas Police Department: Wanted for Murder
Below is a list of wanted persons. If you have any information about where these individuals can be found, please contact the Milpitas Police Department.

Santa Clara County’s most wanted.
All individuals depicted on this site should be considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. If you have knowledge as to the whereabouts of any of these subjects, do not attempt, under any circumstances, to apprehend any of these individuals. All individuals depicted should be considered dangerous. If located or if you have information as to their location, please contact your local law enforcement agency immediately.

The “Most Wanted Terrorists” List
United States Government officials have announced the creation of the “Most Wanted Terrorists” List. The first individuals placed on this list are 22 people wanted for their role in crimes committed since 1985, crimes which resulted in the death of innocent people around the world.

Consumer Services

Consumer Publications
California Department of Consumer Affairs online publications regarding rights and responsibilities.

Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights (FTCR)
A nationally-recognized, California-based, non-profit education and advocacy organization. Our job is to fight to protect your interests every day. We provide people with the facts, not propaganda. We hold the politicians and the special interests accountable when they endanger the public.

FTC Consumer Complaint Form
Use this form to submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection about a particular company or organization. This form also may be used to submit a complaint to the FTC concerning media violence. The information you provide is up to you.

Small Claims Court of Santa Clara County
Consumer Resource & Referral Guide to Legal Agencies for when you want your day in court.

Crime Victim Resources

The Victims of Crime Resource Center
Understanding victim rights. The Victims of Crime Resource Center is located on the Pacific McGeorge School of Law campus in Sacramento, California. The Center operates the State of California’s confidential, toll-free 1-800-777-9229 line.

Amber Alert Plan in California
The CHP is ready to assist in the recovery of an abducted child with statewide notifications of child abduction information.

California Bar Association
Legal Referral Services in the state of California.

California Victim Compensation Program (Cal VCP)
We can assist you and your family with out-of-pocket costs related to the crime, such as medical and counseling bills. To do that, Victim Advocates can help you fill out the proper forms.

District Attorney, Santa Clara County
We in the District Attorney’s Office are making every effort to achieve the lowest crime rate reasonably possible while emphasizing the prosecution of violent crime. 70 West Hedding Street, West Wing, San Jose, CA 95110, Phone: 408-295-2656.

Graffiti Terminators
Graffiti Hotline: 408-408-586-3079
Become a graffiti terminator and help beautify Milpitas.

Paws on Patrol
New crime prevention program sponsored by the Milpitas Police Department to learn how to be observers while out walking your dog. You may use your steps tracker and win prizes for having the most steps per month among the members.

Santa Clara County Bar Association
Court information, lawyer referral service, information for those in the legal profession.

State Attorney General
Bill Lockyer. How the Department of Justice works to ensure safety and justice for all the people of the Golden State.

Data & Statistics

Bay Area homicides 2018: Map and details
Red dots indicate shootings, yellow dots are stabbings, blue are other methods. Click on a dot for more details of the incident. Links to the Bay Area News Group articles about the crimes are below. Find homicide maps from previous years, too.

Criminal Justice Statistics Center
The California Attorney General’s site contains more than 5,000 statistical tables, 59 reports, 29 publications, links to federal, state, and local agency statistics, and links to other criminal statistics services.

Documents & Forms

Law Depot
Free Legal Documents, Forms and Contracts. Print or download your customized legal document in 5-10 minutes.

Small Claims Forms
Free to view and print out on your home or business printer. From the Superior Court’s Small Claims Advisor.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence
What to do and who to call if you or a friend are a victim of domestic violence in Santa Clara County.

Fraud

Bad Check Restitution Program
In an effort to combat this problem, DA George Kennedy has organized the Bad Check Restitution Program to assist local merchants with bad check losses. The primary goal of the program is to obtain full restitution for the victim without adding to the financial burden of the criminal justice system.

Crimes of Persuasion
Inform the public, along with law enforcement personnel, justice officials and victim support groups on the workings and scope of telemarketing and investment fraud so that efforts can effectively be taken to minimize the impact on its victims and ensure that adequate penalties are in place to deter the perpetrators.

Internet Crime Complaint Center
IC3’s mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime.

Straight Talk About Telemarketing
It’s like clockwork. You sit down to dinner and the phone rings. You answer it. The caller is trying to sell you something or tell you that you’ve won a fabulous prize. If you’re tempted by the offer, get the facts. If you don’t, you may be in for a fraud.

Identity Theft

Defend: Recover from Identity Theft
Take steps to respond to and recover from identity theft as soon as you suspect it.

General Guide For Victims Of Identity Theft
This information is provided by the Attorney General to assist individuals who are victims or suspect they may be victims of identity theft. It is intended as a general guide, not as legal advice.

Identity Theft: Online Resources Can Help Protect You
How to protect yourself against identity theft and respond if it happens. A USA government site.

Illegal Drugs

Anonymous Crime Tip Form
You can play an important part in reclaiming your neighborhood from crime and illegal drug trafficking. Any information you supply will help police in their efforts to suppress drug-related activity in your area. All of the information collected will be taken seriously and is confidential. You can also remain anonymous if you wish.

Laws & Legislation

Laws
Milpitas, Santa Clara County and California laws that are top on our mind.

Legal Institutions

FBI – San Francisco Division
The San Francisco Division operates from its headquarters office in downtown San Francisco as well as from its Resident Agencies in Concord, Eureka, Hayward, Monterey, Oakland, Palo Alto, San Jose, San Rafael, and Santa Rosa.

Jails – Correctional Facilities
A GO MILPITAS RESOURCE
Information and links for Elmwood Correctional Facility and the Correctional Center for Women.

Sheriff’s Office
A very helpful and technical site. Just about everything you’ll want to know about crime fighting in Santa Clara County.

United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit
Federal Court for appeals, bankruptcy, etc. for the Pacific states and territories. History and a “walk-through” of a typical case.

Prevention

License Look-Up Page
The California State Department of Consumer Affairs offers this page for you to check that the professional you are considering hiring has a license in the State of California.

Neighborhood Watch
The city police will help you organize a crime prevention Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood. Call 408-586-2400.

Sex Crimes

Megan’s Law
Gives the benefit of the doubt to parents and community leaders by removing the veil of secrecy that has shrouded the whereabouts of over 64,000 registered sex offenders in California.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
National Sexual Assault Hotline. Free. Confidential. 24/7. Click to call
The nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Sex Offender Identification Line
Before hiring an employee or taking on a new volunteer, especially those who will be working with children or women, you may want to take advantage of this service at our local police department. 1 900 448-3000. Cost to use is $10.

Spam


Spam Email
To forward unwanted or deceptive spam to the FTC send it to spam@uce.gov, and be sure to include the full email header. If you think you have been taken advantage of by a spam scam, file a complaint with the FTC online at www.ftc.gov. Complaints will help the FTC find and stop people who are using spam to defraud consumers.

SPAM information from the California Office of the Attorney General
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get rid of this electronic junk mail, but there are steps you can take to reduce the amount of unwanted spam and precautions to take to avoid falling victim to bogus offers slipping into your in-box. You may file a Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company from this page.

Elmwood Jail Outreach Programs

The Santa Clara County correctional Facility is also known as Elmwood jail, has outreach programs for minimum- and medium-security men and women.

Ministries at Elmwood Jail

The incarceration of a loved one can be very overwhelming not only for prisoners at Elmwood Jail, but also for both children and caregivers.

Correctional Institutions Chaplaincy
Also known as CIC Ministries provides Jail Chaplaincy Services in Santa Clara County correctional facilities. Looking for volunteers. Provides training. As jail chaplains, we meet the spiritual needs of every person incarcerated in our county.

Inmate Family Services
Catholic Charities reaches out to the children, families, and individuals who are coping with the impact of imprisonment. The Justice Empowerment programs target youths and adults who are participating in the criminal justice system in Santa Clara County in four programs. The Santa Clara County Probation Department funds three contracted programs – Vocational Training and Employment (VES) for Youth, Vocational Training and Employment (VES) for Adults, and Multi-Agency Assessment Center (MAAC) services at Juvenile Hall. Inmate Supportive Services (ISS), the fourth contract, is funded by the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections under the Sheriff’s Department. In addition to the direct support for inmates by the Inmate Supportive Services, Catholic Charities is the fiscal agent for the Department of Corrections for the Diocese of San Jose to provide chaplaincy services to incarcerated youth at the Juvenile Hall and the inmates at the adult jails.

Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration
The incarceration of a loved one can be very overwhelming for both children and caregivers. It can bring about big changes and transitions. In simple everyday ways, you can comfort your child and guide her through these tough moments. With your love and support she can get through anything that comes her way. Here are some tools to help you with the changes your child is going through. Created by Sesame Street.

Return to main Elmwood Jail Page.

Elmwood Jail – Contact Information & Map

The Santa Clara County correctional Facility is also known as Elmwood jail, has facilities for minimum- and medium-security men and women.

Please first call the main Jail number, 408-299-2305, (From 5AM in the morning to 1AM in the middle of the night) before contacting me. I don’t work for the jail! I sleep a lot.

If you would like to complain about not getting through on that number, contact our County Supervisor for District 3, Otto Lee, Phone: 408-299-5030 or Email: supervisor.lee@bos.sccgov.org.

Contact Information

Click to call on Mobile Phone.
Contact information and map for the Elmwood Jail and the Correctional Center for Women.

Elmwood Men’s Facility
701 S. Abel Street
Milpitas, CA  95035
Booking and Custody Information 408-299-2305
Administration 408-957-5300
Public Information Msg. 408-957-5842
Visiting Office 408-957-5900
Programs 408-957-5850
Correctional Center for Women
701 S. Abel Street
Milpitas, CA  95035
Booking and Custody Information 408-299-2305
Administration 408-957-5300
Visiting Information 408-957-5414
Pre-Processing Information 408-299-8720

Contact Information
Additional contact information for the Main Jail, the Elmwood Correctional Facility and the Correctional Center for Women. Automated Jail Information: 408-976-5245.
Alternate Booking Info SSC: 408-299-2306.

Map

Map to Correctional Facilities
Google Map to 701 Abel St. Jail is in the large open space between I-880, Abel St. and Great Mall Pkwy.

Return to main Elmwood Jail Page.

Bail Bondsmen – San Francisco Bay Area

Do you know what a bail bond or bail bondsman is? There are a several ways of explaining bail bonds and how a person in jail can get out of jail. Milpitas bail bonds men follow the same rules as other bail bonds companies. We found a few good descriptions of the bail bonds procedure and reprinted in part below.

Bail bonds in its simplest form is where; one human guarantees another human will be at a specific place at a specific time. This works well until the bonded person that is out on bail skips court or their hearing date and then they have to be physically forced to go to court on time. Then it is time to call out the bondman’s bounty hunter. This is where the stories come from, Chasing down the bonded out of jail person and returning them to jail to wait for their court date. One of the first westerns on television was about a bounty hunter chasing down people that had jumped bail and the bounty hunter was hired to go get the bonded out of jail person and bring them back to the bondsman and jail. Today the most prominate bounty hunter bringing back the people that jump bail is Dog the Bounty Hunter, a reality TV show.

Insurance Dictionary: Bail Bond

“Monetary guarantee that an individual released from jail will be present in court at the appointed time. If the individual is not present in court at that time, the monetary value of the bond is forfeited to the court (jumping bail). Personal automobile policies commonly cover fees for an insured’s bail bond.”

Law Encyclopedia: Bail Bond

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

A written promise signed by a defendant or a surety (one who promises to act in place of another) to pay an amount fixed by a court should the defendant named in the document fail to appear in court for the designated criminal proceeding at the date and time specified.

Most defendants are financially unable to post their own bail, so they seek help from a bail agent, who, for a nonrefundable fee of 10 percent to 20 percent of the amount of the bail, posts bail. A bail agent becomes liable to the court for the full amount of bail if the defendant fails to appear for the court date. Read more about bail bonds.

Wikipedia: Bail bondsman

A bail bond agent, or bondsman, is any person or corporation which will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of a criminal defendant in court. Although banks, insurance companies and other similar institutions are usually the sureties on other types of contracts (for example, to bond a contractor who is under a contractual obligation to pay for the completion of a construction project) such entities are reluctant to put their depositors’ or policyholders’ funds at the kind of risk involved in posting a bail bond. Bail bond agents, on the other hand, are usually in the business to cater to criminal defendants, often securing their customers’ release in just a few hours.

The first modern bail bonds business in the United States, the system by which a person pays a percentage of the court specified bail amount to a professional bonds agent who puts up the cash as a guarantee that the person will appear in court, was established by Tom and Peter P. McDonough in San Francisco in 1898.

Modern practice

Bond agents have a standing security agreement with local court officials, in which they agree to post an irrevocable “blanket” bond, which will pay the court if any defendant for whom the bond agent is responsible does not appear. The bond agent usually has an arrangement with an insurance company, bank or another credit provider to draw on such security, even during hours when the bank is not operating. This eliminates the need for the bondsman to deposit cash or property with the court every time a new defendant is bailed out.

Bond agents generally charge a fee of 10-12% of the total amount of the bail required in order to post a bond for the amount. This fee is not refundable and represents the bond agent’s compensation for his or her services. As the practice of paying a 10% cash premium for a bond became widespread, some courts have recently instituted a practice of accepting 10% of the bond amount in cash, for example, by requiring a $10,000 bond or $1,000 in cash. In jurisdictions where the 10% cash alternative is available, the deposit is usually returned if the case is concluded without violation of the conditions of bail. This has the effect of giving the defendant or persons giving security for the defendant a substantial incentive to make the cash deposit rather than using a bail bond agent.

For large bail amounts, bond agents can generally obtain security against the assets of the defendant or persons willing to assist the defendant. For example, for a $100,000 bond for a person who owns a home, the bond agent would charge $10,000 and take a mortgage against the house for the full penal sum of the bond.

If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bond agent is allowed by law and/or contractual arrangement to bring the defendant to the jurisdiction of the court in order to recover the money paid out under the bond, usually through the use of a bounty hunter. The bond agent is also allowed to sue the defendant for any money forfeited to the court should the defendant fail to appear.

In most jurisdictions, bond agents have to be licensed to carry on business within the state. Several unusual organizations[1]often provide bail bonds.

Four states–Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, and Wisconsin–have completely banned commercial bail bonding, usually substituting the 10% cash deposit alternative described above. However, some of these states specifically allow AAA and similar organizations to continue providing bail bond services pursuant to insurance contracts or membership agreements.

The economically discriminatory effect of the bond system has been controversial, and subject to attempts at reform since the 1910s, at least. See, e.g., Frank Murphy‘s institution of a bond department at Detroit, Michigan‘s Recorder’s Court.[2]

In addition to the use of bail bonds, a defendant may be released under other terms. These alternatives include Own Recognizance or Signature Bond, Cash Bond, Surety Bond, Property Bond and Citation Release. Alternatives to Bail are determined by the court.

Return to main Elmwood Jail Page.

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