Proposition 25 will appear on the 2020 general election ballot in California. We don’t want it to pass because for many reasons, including it will hurt arrestees, cost the state jobs and an industry that has been around since the Gold Rush. Prop 25, if passed, would end cash bail in California. We prefer to see the existing system (which has been in existence for years) remain

How Did We Get Here?

How about some perspective? Former Governor Jerry Brown agreed with a proposed law banning cash bail systems in August 2018. He wanted cash bail systems replaced with risk-based assessments created by computer algorithms. The state’s licensed bail bondsmen and related employees did not like this proposed law one bit…they realized quickly this would hurt all facets of the state. They gathered enough signatures for a referendum, which puts the future law up for vote by voters. And now, in 2020, a “yes” vote for Prop 25 will uphold the law and eliminate cash bail in California while a “no” vote will keep cash bail as an option. Obviously, Bail Man Bail Bonds wants you to vote “no!”

Why This Proposition Should Scare Residents

Without the bail industry, there will likely be an increase in racial profiling, since the lack of a bail fee schedule will put too much power in the judge’s hand. Do we really want a situation where the judge keeps a person locked up because they “look the part”? That’s not fair and will hurt those of certain demographics.

Just as bad, if we vote yes on the new proposition, it will, in all likelihood clog up the system. After all, we  can’t just change a system and institution that’s been around for years and years overnight without any hiccups. Now, everyone is going to be out at once and people who should not be on the streets will be out on the outside based upon an algorithm. An algorithm!  It hurts us in all areas. Crime could run rampant in California. Can you rest easy at night knowing that someone who should be locked out is now roaming the streets?

Bail bondsman make sure people have their day in court and that they reappear when they should. By working with a bail bondsman, the arrestee and his or her family has a vested interest in them staying on the straight and narrow and showing up to court dates while they wait for their trial to begin. Voting yes to this proposition could cause chaos and put the criminal justice system in California at risk, while also making the lives of everyday citizens less safe.

The Importance of Bail Bonds

How do bail bonds work? If someone is arrested and jailed, a judge “sets bail” based on their alleged crime and some other factors. Generally, judges follow a “bail schedule” that shows dollar amounts associated with different crimes. If bail gets set at several thousand dollars, most people don’t have that kind of money… so they turn to bail bond companies like Bail Man to get the needed money to get out of jail “on bail.” The bail bondsman typically charges a fraction of the bond amount as their fee for providing this service. And he or she arranges with the courts to have the defendant released from jail. The bondsman plays a role in making sure the defendant appears at hearings since he or she doesn’t want to lose their money if the defendant doesn’t show up like they’re supposed to! This system works surprisingly well. Why mess with something that works?

Who wants Prop 25 to pass? The California Democratic Party, the League of Women Voters of California, and Governor Newsom want to end cash bail. Do enough voters in California agree with these people? We shall see when it’s put to vote this November.

Make your voice be heard though and tell the state of California you want jobs saved and a great industry that has been around since the Gold Rush to continue to exist. We help people on their worst days, and the government overstepping their bounds and trying to end our industry would cause all sorts of hiccups in our judicial system. Check out a previous post that discusses that in more detail here.

So this November 3^rd, Vote NO on Proposition 25!