NAMPA -- Some bondsmen and lawmakers want to change the bail bond laws in the state, specifically something called "credit bail."
"Over the years, things have changed and the industry has grown, and we've found that a lot of credit has been given," said Staci Freeman-Madron, owner of Staci's Bail Bonds.
Freeman-Madron has been in the business for 21 years. But the recent increase in the amount of credit bail has her troubled. Credit bail is where the bondsman negotiates the bond fee below the traditional 10%, and acts as a creditor by financing a payment plan for the bond.
"The defendants, basically, are getting out, without any money, or very little down, or a co-signer," said Freeman-Madron. "So we felt, at this point, it's time that we bring a little bit of legislation to try to regulate that."
Freeman-Madron and the Professional Bail Agents of Idaho are pushing legislation to put an end to credit bail. They say most defendants can't make the payments, and then wind up back in jail, facing a new lawsuit from the agent that provided the credit bail.
"They'll do anything to get out of jail," said Freeman-Madron. "So, they don't realize that... especially in this economy today, a lot of people don't have jobs, they don't have money. They can't make these payments. This has also flooded our court system in small claims, by other bail agencies trying to sue them in small claims, and retrieve money."
Senate Bill 1119 would require bail agents to provide proof that they've been paid 10% of the bond, or provided collateral, before the defendant is released.
That bill is in the Judiciary and Rules Committee right now, but it appears that it has stalled.
