Proverbs 13:20

I am often surprised by the cunning and creativity of people that get arrested. I mean after all, it takes effort to think of the crime you intend to commit and plan for the execution, find someone to help you and try to get away with it without being caught. We all know someone like this right? Sounds like this: “Man if he put the same effort and thought process into something legal, he could become a millionaire.” Well the other night I heard something that made me shake my head and laugh out loud. A police officer was questioning this guy who was attempting to bond his friend out of jail. After running the guys social and DOB, the officer let him know there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failing to appear. The guy was cooperative but was telling the officer that he in fact did not miss court and that there must be some mistake. “Are you sure you ran my name?” “Did you run the right social cause I’m clean man, I shouldn’t have nothin out there on me!” The officer was cordial and explained that if a mistake was made it will get worked out in court but since it’s a live warrant he would need to take him into custody. Officer: “I’m going to need to search you real quick. Do you have anything sharp in your pockets, anything that will hurt me?” Offender: “Naw man I ain’t got nothin on me.” The Officer patted the guy down and checked his pockets and there in his right front pocket was the corner of a sandwich bag filled with white powder. Officer: “What is this?” Offender: “What is what?” Officer: “This.” The officer pointed to the little white bag of powder he took from his pockets and placed on the hood of his cruiser. Offender: “You got that from my pocket?” Officer: “Yep.” Offender: “Man you didn’t get that from my pocket.” Officer: “Yeah man, I just pulled this out of your pocket with your keys and everything else you had in your pants pocket and put it right here on the hood.” Offender: “You found that in my pocket?” The officer nodded his head. “Yep right in the pocket of your pants.”

Offender: “Awe man, you know what? These ain’t even my pants.” The officer tried to hold back his grin but just couldn’t keep a straight face. Officer: “These aren’t your pants?” Offender: “Man I must have grabbed the wrong pants when I got dressed this morning.” Officer: “Yes you did son, yes you did”. I was impressed by the way this guy made an attempt to think on his feet. Although flawed, he must operate with the mantra “If you ain’t lying you ain’t trying.” Certainly, here’s what I’ve discovered: Intelligent people can do some really dumb things.

Here’s the story…a friend of a friend asks you to give him a ride to the store. He’s really not your friend but you know him. He seems ok, after all he’s known one of your friends for a while. You say “sure” of course you’ll give a guy a ride to the store. Seems harmless right? You take him to the store, the convenience store on the corner. He says, “You want anything?” You say “no I’m good”. He goes into the store and comes back in about 10 minutes. You say “we good?” He says “yeah, take a right and step on it! You say ”Step on it?” What do you mean? He says “MAN STEP ON IT! He’s agitated… Suddenly Blue Lights behind you, Blue Lights on side streets, and you think you hear a helicopter above you. The next thing you hear are commands from a Police loud speaker telling you to put your hands out the window. Police officers approach your car, guns drawn while you new friend stuffs a brown paper bag under his seat. As you are being violently removed from your vehicle and placed on the ground, knee in the neck, it dawns on you…you are the get-a-way car in an armed robbery. Now this sounds far fetched but it is an absolutely TRUE STORY. When I met the get-a-way driver he was in tears. I had just posted his bond and as he walked out of the release door he all but fell into my arms. I tried to comfort him by telling him that he is just accused of the crime and that he is presumed innocent until the court can prove he’s guilty but it was like he already knew. That prosecutor was going to do everything in his power to convict him. After all, that’s his job. The more convictions he wins the more successful he is. That is the way our judicial system is wired. You know, this could really happen to anybody. As you reflect on this remember what your Mother said. “Don’t hang around the wrong people”. Better yet read Proverbs One and apply it to your life. Peace.

Here’s the lie. Rich people get out of jail, poor people stay in jail.

Most of us have never been arrested. Most of us have never spent even a day in jail. But… those of us who have know this. When you are in jail you have no money, nothing, notta… The jail holds ALL of your belongings in “property” – property that you have no access to. The richest man in town and the poorest man in town are exactly the same in jail. Both are penniless, broke, indigent. Neither of them can bail themselves out. The only assets they have are family and friends. As many of you know, even if you are gainfully employed coming up with $1000 dollars to help a loved one who had one too many at the bar is challenging, especially in the middle of the night. Bail is a Constitutional right. The 8th Amendment states that Bail will not be excessive, however, lets get real. If you don’t have $20 dollars, $15 dollars is excessive. Bail Bondsmen are licensed with the Department of Criminal Justice Services. They are sureties regulated by the Bureau of Insurance and are willing to take on the fiduciary responsibilities for citizens who can not afford to post bail and they do it for a fraction of the cost. The bondsman also guarantees that the offender will show up to every single court date until the case is adjudicated. Bail is set by the judge, not the bail bondsman. Just a little research on this subject will reveal that no one actually stays in jail because they can’t afford to post bond. (Remember they can’t post it anyway.) Many people remain in jail because the family feels it is better and safer for them to be incarcerated until their court date. If your son or daughter is addicted to heroin, better jail than the graveyard. If Mom says no…it’s NO! Many progressives are beginning to think that Bail Bondsmen are actually the answer to judicial reform. Here’s why. Most Bail Agents bring resources that provide intervention for the offender and their families. These resources fit the crime. An introduction to Celebrate Recovery for people who suffer from Hurts, Habits and Hangups. Addiction therapy through the Coleman Institute or Pastoral Counseling for family assault offenders. Imagine offering intervention at the jail house door 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Imagine making resource management training part of the bi-annual continuing education requirement for bondsmen. The cash bail system saves lives. Families get involved with the release of their loved ones. The alternative is to hold people in jail or release offenders to government programs without family awareness and support, which amounts to pre-conviction probation. Remember this old adage: “We are from the Government and we are here to help.” Keep the private option for offender release available. It’s the right thing to do.

Have you ever been in an argument with your loved one? It’s a question I already know the answer to. Have you ever gotten so upset that you just want to leave, get in your car or walk down the road and be anywhere but here? Of course you have. But what if the argument escalates and say for instance your wife or girlfriend wants to see your phone and grabs it out of your hand or you demand to see your husband’s phone and while looking at it you see the text messages from some girl he met on facebook. You are so angry and hurt that you throw the phone up against the wall, the screen shatters, your relationship shatters, and then, overwhelmed with anger you scream as loud as you can, “GET OUT! WE ARE THROUGH!” Knock at the door. Two police officers in full regalia stand in the doorway and inform you that they are responding to a social disturbance call and ask you if everything is alright. You respond: Yes officer everything is fine, we just had an argument. Officer number one: “How did you get that scratch on your face?” You respond “Oh I didn’t realize I had a scratch, must have happened when my wife was trying to grab my phone.” Officer number two: “Is your wife here?” You respond “Yes, She’s here, come on in.” What happens next is a well told story that some of you already know. The officers separate the combatants and conduct interviews. The wife tells her side of the story, how she found out you were cheating on her because of the texts on your phone. You tell the officers how she is really jealous and wanted to see your phone and how she was upset because she saw some texts and how… Officer number two: “Where is the phone?” Is this it?” The officer holds up the cell phone with the smashed screen. You say, “Yep, that’s it.” Officer number one says “Do you want to press charges?” You say “No, of course not.” Officer number two asks your wife to turn around and put her hands behind her back. This is where things get crazy. See, the officer has found enough evidence to charge your wife with assault on a family member, because of the scratch on your face…your testimony. Also, destruction of property, her testimony and physical evidence. Your wife, already furious, goes to the next level of rage. Absolutely unfair! You are the one cheating, She gets arrested. Seeing your wife unjustly arrested and now being restrained is too much for you too handle. You attempt to intervene by pulling your wife away from the officer and pleading with the officer to release her. Suddenly, you are blinded by the most intense burning sensation you ever experienced…Pepper Spray. You find yourself on the floor handcuffed, in custody, charged with obstruction of justice. Better call a Bondsman.

This is a true story and similar to dozens of stories I’ve heard in the past. I would love to hear your story. I look forward to reading your comments.