Category : Happenings

Orange County Allowing Credit Cards for Cash Bail is Bad Public Policy

Orange County is the latest of several California county jails have made it possible for inmates or their families to pay the full amount of bail with a credit card. Four new kiosks were installed last week at Theo Lacy Jail in Irivine and at the Orange County Central Jail in Santa Ana (OCJ). With these kiosks it will soon be possible to pay a full bail amount with a credit card in order to arrange bail payment without the use of a bail bondsman.

How Credit Card Bail Works

Quite simply, an individual walks up to the kiosk and puts the full bail amount onto their credit card. With a valid credit card, the kiosk company will charge the full amount of the bail plus a service fee. At other County jails such as the Ventura Jail, the amount of the service fee is 7%. Let’s say that the amount of bail is $10,000. That means that the credit card will be charged $10,700.

When the defendant returns to court and the case is complete, the $10,000 will be returned to the credit card. The county as well as the “third party” processing company (unlicensed or regulated by the California Department of Insurance which overseas the bail industry) retain the remaining $700 fee.

Lack of Defendant Oversight

What happens if the defendant does not return to court after they’re released? Who is held accountable? The State? The County? Certainly not the kiosk company. Orange County and other California jurisdictions simply do not have the resources to bring in fugitives. With bail bondsmen, this isn’t an issue. If a bail bondsman is used, then they are on the financial hook for that defendant and will do what has to be done to bring the defendant in to face their charges. The bondsman does not want to pay off $10,000.

Unlicensed Surety

This goes against public policy and state law. The California Department of Insurance has regulations in place to ensure that only licensed bail bond agents profit by posting bail for an inmate. By allowing credit card bail, a “third party” is profiting from the process without having to be licensed by the state.

The Department of Insurance has various requirements for bail agents (known as a “surety”). One of these is the ability to pay off bonds that may forfeit through the use of an underwriter and financial reserves.

Increased Consumer Debt and Hidden Fees

Using a credit card for cash bail can be predatory to unwary consumers. The “third party” entity is only disclosing the fee amount that they charge for bail. What they do not let consumers know is that the consumer are going to be charged a cash advance fee by the credit card company. This could be at least 2%, if not more. Can you afford to pay the minimum monthly payment for such a large sum PLUS the additional interest that is going to be charged? Keep in mind that $10,000 would be a small bail amount in Orange County. Criminal cases often continue for months and sometimes years.

The Bail Industry Works

By using a bail bondsman, the consumer will always know the true cost of bailing out a loved one. Instead of a lot of hidden fees, the fee for bail is 10% of the bail – no more, no less. There are no surprises. Some bondsmen allow for bail payment plans with no interest.

Defendant released on bail with a bondsman return to court in 98% of cases nationwide. The “retail bail” or private bondsman industry gets the job done at no cost to the public.

What kind of “service” is the kiosk to the public? It’s about time the state started thinking about abolishing credit card bail from our jail systems.

San Mateo Approves Funding for New Jail

This past Tuesday, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved the spending of $16.5 million for the construction of a new jail, in spite of protests from opponents.

The decision was reportedly unanimous. The new facility is estimated to cost $155 million. The board approved contracts with project managers and architects and came to an agreement with local trade unions. Construction is scheduled to begin at the new location for the jail in June.

There were about twelve people waving signs protesting the plan to build the new jail, which has no official funding source to date. The money will likely need to be financed. The protestors urged the board to look for alternatives for sending people to jail.

Sheriff Munks has been pushing for a new facility, citing the overcrowding of the Maguire Jail Correctional Facility and deterioration of the Women’s Jail as reasons to build a new jail. The new project will also create about 300 construction jobs.

The county has taken this plan more seriously now that Read more »

Las Colinas Jail Gets Passing Grade

A May report issued by a San Diego County Grand Jury describes the Las Colinas Detention Facility as being well kept and maintained.

The panel visited the 14-acre facility last September after harsh condemnations had been made as to the condition of the jail.  Those criticisms were so harsh, say county officials, that construction of a new, updated facility has been approved.   The groundbreaking is scheduled to take place later this summer.

The contract for the 1,216-bed facility was awarded to Balfoour Beatty/Barnhart.  The 45-acre jail will be located adjacent to the Riverview Office Park, will stand two-stories tall and will be surrounded by barbed wire and metal fencing.   Construction is scheduled to complete in late 2014.

According to a recent report by 10News.com, the biggest challenges Las Colinas jailers face is separating various categories of inmates.  At current, the jail houses female detainees convicted of a wide-range of crimes, ranging from misdemeanor offenses to violent felonies.  The report goes on to state that approximately 18% of inmates need to be kept separate from the general population for a variety of reasons.  The Grand Jury believes that the state’s prisoner realignment program could cause that number to increase.  State officials disagree.

The only recommended change listed in the Grand Jury’s report involved the introduction of Saturday parental visiting hours.  The suggested location for the visits is a County juvenile girls’ rehabilitation facility.

 

 

LAPD Cinco De Mayo DUI Checkpoints

The Los Angeles Police Department has announced it will be holding a number of DUI checkpoints at locations throughout the city in conjunction with this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Celebrated every year on May 5, Cinco de Mayo honors the heritage of Mexicans throughout North America.  It has also, unfortunately, become a night associated with overindulgence and binge-drinking.   The Los Angeles Times has reported the LAPD is requesting party goers remember to designate a driver before heading out to restaurants, bars and parties before the “Fiesta” begins.  The Department further said those pulled over at the checkpoints will be checked for an odor of tequila on the breath.

DUI Checkpoints will take place at the following locations and times:

• Friday May 4,   7 p.m. to 3 a.m
  Vermont Ave.  at 6th St.
  Hollywood Blvd. at Gower St.

• Saturday May 5,   7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
  Cahuenga Blvd. at Broadlawn Drive

• Sunday May 6, 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
  Imperial Hwy. at Main Street

A DUI Saturation Point will also take place on Sunday May 6 between the hours of 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the area of 77th St.

The LAPD suggests persons celebrating Cinco de Mayo consider leaving car keys at home, pre-arranging taxi service or pre-planning public transportation prior to starting the festivities.   It is also requested that persons who see drunk drivers call 9-1-1 to report them. Other jurisdictions will also be out in force, so play it smart.

Those who are arrested for a DUI in LA, first time offenders are Read more »

San Mateo County’s New Realignment Plan

Because of the state’s new jail realignment plan, San Mateo County has reportedly decided to implement its own realignment plan in order to accommodate the hundreds of expected inmates that will be sent to the county jails instead of prisons.

It is estimated that the county will see about 600 new inmates in the jails within two years. This is one reason for county supervisors to approve plans for a new jail quickly.

Since October of last year, San Mateo County jail has received 66 inmates who would have otherwise served their sentence at a state prison. They are either housed in the jails or placed in a supervised probation program.

The local realignment plan will incorporate Read more »

Orange County Sheriff’s Department To Patrol Yorba Linda

The City of Yorba Linda has announced that it will no longer be contracting with Brea for policing services.  Members of the City Council said they have moved forward with signing a five-year contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, instead.

The Orange County Register reported that the $9.8 million per year contract marks an approximate 10% annual savings over Yorba Linda’s current expenditure.

Alternatives to signing with the OC Sheriff’s Department included renewing the $10.7 million annual contract with Brea, renewing the contract with two less officers for $10.3 million annually, or moving forward with a $10.9 million annual contract with the city of Anaheim.

A key focal point of the Sheriff’s Department’s presentation was the near limitless resources they could bring in should an emergency situation arise.

Not everyone agreed the switch was a good idea.  A number of Yorba Linda residents attended the meeting in Read more »

La Mesa Police To Get Armored Vehicle

The La Mesa Police Department will soon be the proud owner of a critical Tactical Armor Rescue vehicle. The San Diego Union Tribune has reported that the acquisition was approved by the La Mesa City Council in a 5-0 vote.

The vehicle, more commonly referred to as a “BearCat”, will shared with El Cajon Police Department and could be used to respond to terrorist attacks or potential terrorists attack.  La Mesa Police Lt. Matt Nicholass said he believes East County could be recognized as potential targets for this type of violence.

Hospitals, local schools, and the El Cajon courthouse were among Read more »

MADD Honors Two SDPD Officers

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)has honoring San Diego Police Officer John Ampol Jr. and James Zirpolo for their continued service to the community.

Zirpolo was recognized for making 205 drunk driving arrests in 201. Ampol was honored for his “dedication to teaching DUI procedures to other officers”.  Reportedly,  the awards were presented to the officers at t luncheon held earlier this week.

A SDPD spokesperson said that Zirpolo has made more than 3,000 drunk driving arrests since he was first hired in 1991.  Ampol has received the “Outstanding DUI Officer” award for the past three years. In addition to Read more »

LAPD Hollenbeck Captain Honored As Woman Of The Year

California Assembly Speaker John A. Perez recognized Hollenbeck police Captain Anita Ortega as the 46^th Assembly District’s Woman of the Year.

EGPnews.com reported that the ceremony, which took place at the State Capitol, was started in 1987 to celebrate Women’s History Month and is sponsored by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

Captain Ortega is currently the Area Commanding Office of Hollenbeck Community Police Station, which is the largest division in the nation’s third-largest city police force, which includes Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Montecito Heights communities.  The LAPD Hollenbeck Station is located just east of downtown Los Angeles and serves approximately 200,000 people.  The station employs more than 282 support staff, officers and detectives.

Ortega said one of her proudest accomplishments is Read more »

Chief of San Clemente Police Services Named

San Clemente City Manager George Scarborough has announced a new Chief of Police Services has been appointed.   Lt. John Coppok will take the reins effective March 23.  His promotion was made public earlier this week.

Coppok is a 26-year veteran of law enforcement and has spent the past seven years with the San Clemente Police Department.  His career highlights include narcotics investigations, criminal street gang enforcement, and has previous tenure serving as  the secondary commander of SWAT activities.  San Clemente Patch reported he also Read more »