Author: Michael Whitlock

By Michael J. Whitlock We’ve all seen fire hose and axe stations as we walk through office buildings only to be used in case of an emergency. Expansion of preventive detention, requiring constitutional amendments is the order of the day in Connecticut, Indiana, and Texas. Some members of these state legislatures have deemed the increase in crime an emergency and preventative detention, holding an offender in jail without bail, until trial, the answer. After years of overreaching criminal justice reforms these legislative bodies, out of desperation, are looking to break the glass to create the necessary tools to aid in putting out a fire they themselves help ­­start. They want to change constitutional language that has been in place for at least two centuries. Why now? Bail agents across the country know,…

Michael J. Whitlock If you were unable to attend the 7th Annual ABC Agent Conference in Las Vegas last week, that sucks for you, because it was the best one yet. A primary characteristic of an ABC conference is, no fuss no muss. A cocktail party on the eve of the conference followed by one day of all business. Information comes at you like a fire hose and then you go on with your life much more informed. This year's event was especially enlightening because it was by all accounts a good year for the bail industry. Another effort [caption id="attachment_14006" align="alignright" width="208"] American Surety Company President & CEO Bill Carmichael opens the conference[/caption] to put the bail industry out of business in California failed by a wide margin. Ohio…

Michael J. Whitlock, Executive Vice President I attended my first meeting of the Professional Bondsmen of Texas in 1989. The meeting was as I recall a well organized and well attended. PBT, like any association has faced its share of challenges. The trade group however demonstrated its toughness and resilience and has remained strong at its core. It is currently one of the strongest and most effective bail agent associations in the country. PBT's strength can be found in three specific areas: leadership, membership, and relationships. Their leadership starts at the top with President Mike Byrd and then funnels down through the standing committees. All the committees are strong, Legislative, Education and PR are the standouts. The Legislative Committee currently chaired by Scott Walstad was instrumental in getting SB6 passed into law in…