In January of 2024 the Arkansas Bail Bond Law changed that made it illegal to finance professional bail bonds in this state. This means very simply that the 10% and the fees needed to post a bond MUST BE PAID IN FULL at time of the bond.
Initially I was personally against this b/c I did not think that it was the courts business on what myself and client(s) agreed to financially. I was firm on the courts hold bail responsible if client(s) do not show for court.
In a short time I did see the benefits as many bondsman did not renew and it cleaned upped the industry quite quickly. These people were know as “bail writers” not bondsman. There is a clear difference between the two. One the “bail writers” only post the bonds for the bottom financial part. Meaning that after the financial part was completed that was the end of their help/service. Professional bondsman are there for their clients during the entire process and maybe even lifetime friends after the court is completed.
The “bail writers” made it like a used car dealership where people in jail would work the list until they could find the cheapest to post bail with minimal $ down or collateral. They circled the wagons on themselves by doing this practice. These actions was a major pusher of the law change. It leveled the playing field and there is no “financial advantage”.
Now back to “you will get caught eventually” as we still have some that have tried to lie and finance and such have lost their bail license and caused their companies they work for issues. The clock never stops ticking and your clock will ring that alarm if you keep trying to escape the current law.
Word to the wise for any person that is out on a financed bail bond. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY $$$$$ period.
When you left the jail, I bet you walked out with paperwork that says bond is paid in full. That is your gold card!!!
Jails however MUST do a better job making sure that this law is being followed with every bond posted. Verify, ask questions, see the proof, set a process and never relent on it. In the end this helps accused people more than ever as bail amounts have been reduced to more reasonable and they are getting help from professional bail bonds with many if not dozens of years of experience. This helps with FTA rates for the courts being lower, victims seeing closure etc.
See the writing on the wall if you post bail in Arkansas. Stop the financing before it cost you your license.
-Jeremy Rowland/Owner
