Sacramento Bail Bonds

Colorado Springs Resident Sues “Dog” For Defamation

A Colorado Springs resident has proceeded to sue the famous television bounty hunter, known popularly as Duane “Dog” Chapman for causing him defamation. The television star and his crew have been sued for allegedly lodging a false complaint against the Colorado Springs resident, Hoang Minh Phung Nguyen. Chapman and his crew had Nguyen arrested by saying that Nguyen had fired a gun at them while they were filming for an episode in a Colorado Springs parking lot.

Nguyen’s contention is that Duane Chapman, his sons Leland Blane Chapman and Duane Chapman II along with Colorado’s bail bondsman Bobby Brown had him unfairly arrested without reason and had resulted in his defamation. Moreover, Nguyen alleges that he was caused injury when in fact it was he who was fired upon by pepper pellets. He says this happened when he was fleeing the scene on a motorcycle on April 21, 2009 when the crew was shooting their film near the Apartments.

Nguyen was himself was facing charges at the time for failing to appear before a court hearing in a case of domestic violence lodged against him. Nguyen was also under a bond of $12,000 at the time, posted by Brown. Later on, Nguyen was apprehended by Chapman and Brown and handed over to police.

Although Nguyen was suspected of a second-degree murder attempt for carrying a dangerous weapon and also being a known offender, the prosecutors had declined to file charges against him after concluding that there was not enough evidence against him. Following this, in May 2009, Nguyen’s lawyer had tried to convince the judge to file a charge of false reporting against Chapman. However the judge had disagreed to that.

A lawsuit has been filed by Nguyen against the defendants who include Chapman’s company DA Kine Bail Bonds, Inc. and another company that produces the cable television program “Dog the Bounty Hunter.” In the lawsuit, Nguyen, 37, says that the defendants were responsible for defaming him, so much so that he had to relocate to Denver after having lost his job in Colorado Springs. The lawsuit, filed in April 2010, may lead to a six-day trial before 4th Judicial District Judge G. David Miller on Nov. 28, if the mediation process fails to help both parties reach a settlement.

The defendants’ lawyer, Steven D. Zansberg denied the allegations made against his clients, saying that their statement was regarding “matters of legitimate public interest and concern.” He also said that for Nguyen to extract damages, he would have to somehow prove that the statements made by his clients about him were made with full or partial awareness of their falseness. He also said that his clients had even gone to a great extent to “lawfully apprehend a fugitive pursuant to a valid warrant for his arrest.”

While The Market Is Depressed, Bail Bonds Agents Suffer

The general conception about a bad economy is, if it is bad crime rates go up. But it is not necessarily true. A bondsman doesn’t make a fortune out these circumstances as previously though of. With an exception of a few states crime rates have remained steady. Just like any business the bail bond industry is also hit severely due to this meltdown. Bail bond companies are just like merchants selling products they have to offer and now no one’s buying it.

When people start losing there jobs, generalized fear is generated amongst the masses about loosing jobs as well. People start cutting down there expenses. Bail bonds are of no exception. In California, Washington, Florida we see that the bail bonds industry is suffering miserably because people have no money in their pockets. People, who get arrested now, don’t even have the money to apply for a bail bond, forget about the actual bail itself.

In a normal scenario your average bail bondsman deals with good simple people who have just made a nominal mistake to end up behind bars. But now people can do the most bizarre things in situations this desperate e.g. embezzlement.

There was a time when people used to takeout there credit cards whenever they found themselves in jail. Spending $2,000 or $5,000 at one go was not a problem back then as they knew they will be able to repay the debt when they came out. Now people don’t want to spend that money. They want to ride it out by serving time. That money has become very significant as it might be used to pay someone’s rent or mortgage or even groceries.

The high unemployment and lack of job opportunities is also adding to the burden.  Someone arrested and needing a high bail to get out has little incentive without having a job to go back to.  As a result, many are opting to stay behing bars.

Now, people never think once of pulling out their credit cards. People prefer to suck it in and stay the tenure of the arrest rather then paying for release. They have other priorities which are far more significant then getting a bail e.g. house rent, groceries. But the situation will gradually improve for the good.

Are You Wanted? Verify If There Is A Warrant For Your Arrest

Know Your Arrest Warrant Status Today

You should always keep of yourself updated on the warrant status. You might never know when a police man might come knocking at your door with handcuffs at the palm of his hands waiting for you. The judge might not be easy on you because of the nature of the arrest. This process can be very embarrassing for you and might cost you precious time and money. This can only be avoided if you are always aware of the warrant status and keep updating on that.   The most difficult thing in finding out the warrant status is that you may not remember or know what infractions you have committed. It can be because of an unpaid parking ticket or a minor traffic violation or failure to appear in a community service work. Someone might even use your credit card or identity card without your knowledge to commit acts of crime.

There are a number of ways that one can use to see if there is a warrant outstanding in their name.  These are:

Go through your records- Review your records very carefully. Remember an arrest warrant will only be issued on your name if you have committed any act of offense or gotten in to legal issues you did not resolve. Other than these circumstances if you do not have any involvement anywhere then there might be no warrant on your name.

Go to your local courthouse- Go to your local court house to find out if there is any warrant on your name. The officials there will be happy to help you go through all the files to get to your records. If there are any minor offenses the officials won’t care much. But in case of severe crime they might call for an arrest. If you are not able to find out any information regarding the warrant you should try out the court houses of places where you think you had committed the offense.

Look it up online- The quickest way to find out if you have any warrants is by going online. You can find out your warrant status in a matter if minutes. It is done in a very confidential manner because the records are accumulated from both private and public database. You will never get arrested while using this service as it is completely confidential. No one will ever know that you went with this search to find out about your own warrant status. The advantage of this service is that you can find out about your warrant status even if it is issued at a different court house from your locality.

Asking a police officer- Ask your local police officer to check your warrant status. This is a quick and free process but should only be used as a last stand. Be prepared for the risk involved because if you have a warrant issued on your name, you will get arrested. Always get a lawyer beforehand so that he can make arrangements for you so that you can turn yourself in. The court most likely will act leniently for your effort.

 

Steps You Must Take To Get A Family Member Free From Confinement

Being caught in a legal case and jailed is one of the worst experiences that anyone can come across. It’s extremely embarrassing being subjected to be in jail for no reason. If one of your loved one’s gets arrested and has to get out of the jail, he or she has to prove in court their innocence. It happens to most of us at some point of time in life but we never know when it will take place. If someone commits a crime knowingly or unknowingly the police have the full authority to arrest that person.

But first you should find out why your loved one is behind bars. If it is because of a nominal act of felony like a traffic violation then you should ask the arrestee for a cite release. If a cite release is on the cards then the detainee has to cite to the arrestee for a cite releasae with the promise that he or she will appear in front of court when the hearing takes place.

The first thing you should do is go the jail where you’re relative or friend is being kept. Talk to the police officer stationed there and ask if there is a possibility of “Cite & Release”. If they you there is a possibility make use of it. A citation release involves the issuance of a citation to the arrestee. Here the detainee has to promise the arrestee that he or she must appear in front of the court on the day the hearing will be scheduled. One can only apply for a citation release for minor infractions like traffic violation.

Bail bond is a legal document signed by both the detainee and the bail bond agent providing surety that the guilt will turn up to every court hearing proceedings. It is a legal document with great importance. After the bail bond agent has located the prison where your relative is, go with him and try to get started with the bail bond process.

The agent will go to the jail and post the bail bond. Bail bond is the cost of the bail, upon posting which the detainee can get an early release. Cost of the bail bond is 10% of the bail amount. This rate is fixed by the State Department of Insurance which is why it can’t be negotiated. Make sure all the applications have been filled in properly and go through all the details of the agreement before the detainee signs on it. After the paperwork is done your loved ones will be released in a couple of hours.

Picking The Best Bail Bondsman

Questions To Ask Your Bail Bond Company

There are numerous bail bond agents out there. However, choosing the best bail bondsman is not easy. Figuring out what separates a good bail bondsman from a bad one is vital in choosing the best professional to suit your needs. If for some reason one ends up behind the bars for a crime committed or not committed, there is a way to come out of jail very soon and without any fuss. This can be made possible by a bail bond company  even before the hearing starts.

Bail bond is a legal document signed by both the defendant and the bail bond agent wherein it is stated that the defendant has to turn up at each and every court hearing held. This legal document has utmost importance. The bail bondsman pays a surety to the court stating that the defendant will not fail to appear in front of the court on the next hearing. If the defendant does fail to appear the surety is fortified. Now a days, anyone who gets imprisoned can seek for professional help through bail bonds.

Bail bond agents are required to have a crime free background. Considerations might be made in certain cases but not in case of major crimes. Random background check and finger printing might be done by the authorities before the induction takes place. In the state of Florida a bondsman license can only be acquired after submitting several recommendations and certificates of character.

There are many bail bond companies out there but choosing a good bail bond agent is not that easy. Thorough research should be conducted before selecting the bail bond agent who suits your needs. If someone ends up in jail it takes a lot of time to complete all the legal formalities of being arrested. Finger printing, retina scan, photo shots and nation wide database searches are conducted. In order to get a quick release, aid of the bail bond agent is required.

Ensure the fact that the bail bond agency you choose is registered with a good business bureau to avert future complications. Go for an experienced bondsman who knows the process of applying for bail bonds through years of work assignments in local prisons and courts. An efficient bondsman will be able to work things out and make sure that the detainee is released in a very short period of time after the arrest takes place.

Negotiation Can Save You Funds On Your Bail Bond.

Saving Money On Legal Fees

A cite release refers to getting an early release from jail on the detainee's own recognisance.  A citation release requires the presiding judge to order a citation to the arrested, indicating that he or she must appear on the court on the date of the hearing proceedings.. When the detainee has committed a rather minor act of offense a citation released can be cited.

If the crime is more severe in nature bail is required for the release. If you can't pay the bail amount there is always bail bonds. A bail bond which is also known as surety bond is a contractual undertaking guaranteed by a state licensed bail bond agent who is backed by a bail bond company or an insurance company. The bondsman pledges in front of the court to pay the full amount of bail if the defendant fails to appear on the day of the hearing.

There are several bond companies out there in the United States, but each state has its own legislation when it comes to bail bonds. All the bail bond companies out there are state licensed and can only charge bail bonds at state proposed rates. There are only two types of rates when it comes to bail bonds, at 10% and 8%. E.G the California Department of Insurance (CADOI) has set two types of rates in the state of California. Some bail bond companies who are also filed with (CADOI) can charge bail bonds at a special rate of 8%. This rate is the cost of the bail bond.

So if you want to hire a bondsman to get someone released from jail start negotiating the cost of the bail bond from 8%. Going below 8% is considered illegal. A lot of bail bond companies despite of having the 8% rate bail bond will still try to charge you 10% .

So if you meet all the conditions which qualifies you for the 8% rate , go for it. The conditions to get the 8% rate are as follows- * You must hire a private attorney * The Co-signor or detainee should be either: In the US Military, a Veteran, a member of AARP, or a union member.

Also ask your agent if he can make an arrangement regarding the payments like the installment payment option or the credit card payment option. So just by bringing the cost down from 10% to 8% you will save a lot of money. For a $25,000 bail where you had to pay $2,500, you will save $500.

 

What You Should Know About The California 3 Strikes Law

California's Three Strikes Law

If someone has committed a criminal offense on three or more times and has been convicted for the same then it is mandatory that they are put behind bars for even a longer period of time. This is known as the three strikes law and it is enacted by state governments of the United States. This statute became very famous in the 90’s.

The California three strike law runs a very repressive course as an offense like minor felony and even non violent drug offense can result in life imprisonment. This law affects the African American and Latino’s more than the white’s as they are likely to get condemned for life by it.

Even if the perpetrator is guilty of one or more previous crimes, that person has a right to be free on a bail bond before and during the trial.  The presiding judge must determine the bail amount and if the person if a danger to society or a flight risk.

There are groups who are committed in reforming the California Three Strikes Law. These are legal groups who are supporting non profit organizations like the Family Against Mandatory Minimums, Families to Amend California's Three Strikes to nullify the current Three Strikes Law. They are asking for an amendment of this rule with a more decent and impartial approach.

Under the California Three Strikes Law if a person is convicted for felony and it just so happens that this person has been caught committing a criminal offense twice before then he or she will be imprisoned for a minimum period of 25 years. Although there are instances where on the last strike criminals have desperately tried to escape the police which intern has resulted in probable attacks. Someone serving term for getting a second or a third strike must complete 80% of the sentence before being eligible for an early release. Convicts with no previous strike records serve half the sentence period if the nature of the crime is non violent.

In 1999 the Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to the California’s three strikes law brought by a felon who was sentenced to 25 years to life for stealing a bottle of vitamins. It was decided by the Justice that the lower courts should deal with this law properly before they are taken to the Supreme Court.

The Inimitable American History Of Bounty Hunters

How did bounty hunters come into business and why did it become legal? It all started in England hundred years ago. As a matter of fact, during the 13th century a person acts as a bail and not any amount of money.

That person may be assigned as custodian of the accused and when the accused did not appear to face his or her penalty, the custodian is destined to take the punishment.

This England bail system guided the American government during the colonial times.  In 1679 however, the first monetary bail was agreed upon when the British Parliament passed the Habeas Corpus Act. This allows the accused prisoner to be released from detention by paying a certain amount as "bail". A prisoner can also be quickly released even in a very low monetary bail. This process is headed by the Lord Chancellor who acts as the judge and allows the release of the accused provided that the agreed amount will be paid for in exchange of it. Still, the defendant is expected to be always present during court trials.

Numerous laws have been revised and implemented but the legal bond is still there giving birth to more bounty hunters and bail bond agents. The fugitive recovery agents or the bounty hunters are more empowered to track down criminals trying to escape from the state. With the special authority given to them, they can easily break into the residence of the criminals if the situation warrants it. This allows them to easily detain the fugitives. The bail bondsmen in turn can provide a speedy release to the prisoner as long as there is an agreement that the defendant will be present during the court trials as scheduled.

To sum it all up, a bondsman job is to get people out of jail in the soonest possible time while bounty hunters on the other hand makes sure that the fugitive gets in jail in the soonest possible time.

Get More Info Regarding Bounty Hunters

Finding A Reliable Bail Bondsman

What are the factors to consider in choosing a bail bondsman? How to make the right decision to attain the desired outcome? Looking for the best bail bond company may be a challenging task but the good thing about it is that in terms of financial matters, they have fixed rates as mandated by the law. Before availing services from them, make sure that you have taken into account the possible setup or initial agreement.

First and foremost, Bail Bond Agents should have license for the state they provide service and furthermore, they should be reputable.

Bail bond company must have sufficient knowledge about the different court systems, prisons and related processes and most importantly, on focusing to the client’s quick release.

In addition to these, the company should be able to provide services even to those who only have an average amount of financial resources. Though these people can choose to apply for a loan, to be able to employ the said service, it is still better if they can take advantage of reasonable financial or payment options

When looking for a bail bond company, take advantage of bonds that does not require collateral payment or sureties. Most of the better companies offer this kind of service. However, not all bail bond agents are willing to provide their service despite having enough financial resources if they know something bad about the client’s background. Bail bond companies are concerned about client’s employment history to ensure that they are still heading to the right business track. They have the right to reject your proposal depending on the standards they have set. If that is the case, you may want to try a more considerate bail bond company who can address your needs and at the same time, you can be assured that there will be someone to help you.

Overall, there are a lot of important factors which needs to be taken into consideration when picking the right company for the person to work with and trust.

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Do Violent Video Games Produce More Violent Kids?

Do Violent Video Games Produce Kids More Violent?

In this modern age, a lot of things have changed due to continuous advancement in technology. Our beliefs, lifestyle and approach to several things have evolved from simple to complex ways. Even the kids of the new generation have their own preference even at a very young age. Take for example their addition to Grand Theft Auto. Nothing can stop them playing the games they want since the Internet is there to provide unlimited access to popular downloads and games.

Do think games like Grand Theft Auto bad for children? How can it alter the behavior of a kid who always plays the game? Does it have any psychological effect to players? Though there are negative feed backs about Grand Theft Auto addiction, the game remains to be an all-time favorite which obviously makes it successful. True enough, it is not all about cruelty and crime.

This can actually test a child's wit, creativity and alertness. Unlike the usual show on CSI or Law and Order, Grand Theft Auto showcases unique events. Video games and television should not be solely blamed as the root cause of kids’ violence. Even bail bondsmen agree that it is not always like that.

The impact of Grand Theft Auto to the kid’s behavior is not something to be bothered about. It is just temporary or on a certain spur of the moment. Definitely they can get away with it. What is more important is the parent’s upbringing. No matter how many violent games you let your children play, if he or she has the right attitude and armed with self-discipline everything will go well.

Neither video games nor television show can make a kid more violent if there is consistent guidance from elders. As long as they enjoy from it, they can learn a lot. Parents are encourage to point out to their kids how reality differs from what they see onscreen.