There is a concerted and coordinated effort to outlaw private bail in the United States. Here is the false narrative: Cash bail leads to a two-tiered justice system – one for the rich and one for everyone else. Those who sit behind bars while awaiting trial are exposed to significant collateral consequences, like the loss of a job or even custody of their children. What’s more, these impacts are disproportionately experienced by people of color. First of all, people do not get arrested and go to jail simply because of the color of their skin. People get arrested because THEY BROKE THE LAW. When you are arrested, you are accused of a crime. The 5th and 14th Amendments of the Constitution Of The United States guarantee the right to due process…the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The 8th Amendment of the Constitution provides a limit to bail, that it will not be excessive. 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. Remember? 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 Hang-ups. Addiction therapy through the Coleman Institute or Pastoral Counseling for family assault offenders and alcohol monitoring. 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. Don’t Outlaw Freedom.

Ok, here’s how it works. You get pulled over. Sheriff finds a straw with what appears to be a white powdery residue substance on the inside of the straw. You get released with a warning for defective equipment for the tail light that was out and down the road you go. Three months later Sheriffs show up at your job with a warrant for your arrest. They sent the baggie off to the lab and it came back positive for Schedule 1 or 2 narcotic. The prosecutor showed the evidence to the grand jury and secured a DIRECT INDICTMENT. This make sense right? Right! You had residue from a narcotic in your vehicle, on your person. This is the proper, intended reason for Direct Indictments. Here is how Direct Indictments are abused:

You are charged with a total of 5 charges. Hit and Run, Reckless driving. Possession of schedule 1 or 2 narcotic, Driving on suspended and DWI. The prosecutor moves forward on the Possession of Schedule 1 or 2 drug and the DWI and decides to Noelle prosequi the driving on suspended and hit and run. You think “Great” those charges are dismissed. Wrong! Those charges are Nolle prosequi,. The Prosecutor can bring those charges as much as a year later… or more! You get convicted of the charges the prosecutor pursued. you think its over and BAM. You are arrested again! you think, “wait” those charges were dismissed! Nope. The were Noelle Prosequi. Now I am not a lawyer and I do not give legal advice but I do have a front row seat to the judicial system. Here is my advice.

1. Don’t break the law
2. If you do get a lawyer
3. Understand that the prosecutor’s job is to prosecute you!
4. Your Job is to defend yourself

If you can get a secured bond…Do so. www.bailbondsva.com

BEST REGARDS

BILL Weisband

So you go out for a couple beers, run into a couple of old friends and a couple of beers turns into one of the best nights you’ve had in a long time. What started out as a 2 hour outing ended up as an 8 hour party! ”Last Call For Alcohol” What? You look at your phone and stare in disbelief at the time. 1:30AM, Wow, how did this happen? You and your buddies start saying goodbye, they call an Uber, You drove your car, and you need to get to work first thing in the morning so a cab or an Uber doesn’t work for you. You know better than to drive because you’ve had way to much to drink so you get in your car, lean the seat back, make yourself as comfortable as possible. Perfect plan right? Sleep it off, drive home at the crack of dawn, get ready for work and struggle through the work day as the penalty for partying. Some of you already know what happens next…knock knock knock on your window. It’s the local Sherrif‘s department. ”License and registration please“. You’re not worried because you are doing the right thing, you’re not driving you are sleeping it off right?

Here is the sad truth. Your keys are in the ignition, or in the console or anywhere where they are accessible. DUI…Yep DUI… I know Ive heard this story 100 times over the last 18 years. If you decide to “Do The Right Thing”, lock those keys in the trunk or throw them in the woods or stash them in a bush because if you can reach them or have access to them and you are over a .08 BAC…you are going to jail. By the way you can still get a DUI even if you are under .08 BAC 18.2-266 Click the link and read it for yourself! If it happens to you, call me and I’ll be there for you.

So if you were wondering, “What can I do to get arrested?” I have the perfect answer. Here it is: DISOBEY A POLICE COMMAND. That’s right. It’s just as simple as that. I see it happen all the time, An officer makes a traffic stop for what ever reason, it really doesn’t matter why he stopped you. He approaches the car, he asks for your drivers license and registration. Simple enough right? Intelligent right thinking people hand the documents over to the officer, hands on the wheel, radio off, a tone of calm controlled respect in their voice. Officer lets you know the reason for pulling you over, my last encounter was because I neglected to turn my bright lights off. I was south bound, the officer was northbound. It was Friday night at 11:45 PM. As we passed each other I neglected to dim my lights. He turned around and pulled me over. All I really had to do was comply. I wasn’t breaking the law. I had a valid drivers license, a proper registration, I was not drinking, smoking weed, I had no outstanding warrants and I wasn’t speeding. The officer asked me, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” I replied, “No I don’t”. Officer said, “It’s because you didn’t dim your lights to oncoming traffic.” “Have you had anything to drink tonight?” I replied, “no sir.” He said, “Ok Ill be back in just a moment”. I’m quite sure he ran my license to check for warrants, came back and handed my documents to me, warned me about being more careful with my brights and we were done. For the Officer, a fishing expedition. Trying to catch drivers DUI or wanted fugitives. For me? A slight inconvenience. Yes it’s pretty much common sense for most people.

Scenario #2 – Officer, ”Roll down your window please”. You, ”Man, why did you pull me over?” Officer, “I need you to roll down your window and I’m going to need to see your drivers license and registration”. You, “Man I ain’t showing you shit until you tell my why you pulled me over”. “This is bullshit! I’m tired of all this profiling, harassment bullshit”. At this time the officer wisely calls for back up. Officer, “Sir I am going to need you to step out of your vehicle”…Now from here it can go just as far as you would like to take it. If you do not exit your vehicle the Officers will assist you. Break your window pull you out of the car and cuff you. Why? Because, you were stupid enough to disobey a police command. Here is the tale of the tape: Resisting arrest, assault on a police officer and obstruction of justice… Just for starts. Let’s all do our best to not fall for the Number One Way To Get Arrested. Take some advice from Chris Rock. On how NOT to get your ass kicked by the cops!

Oh yea, things are definitely different these days. Especially when it comes to looking at dirty pictures. It used to be like this: Drive to the seedy part of town, go in to the adult book store where you would have to peruse the sordid offerings and take your selections to the counter where a real live person would look you in the eye and say, “will that be all?” “well the magazines are for my uncle, the snickers bar is mine.” Yes, super creepy and embarrassing. Matter of fact it was the ideal deterrent for most people, heck you might even be seen by a neighbor or your pastor or worse one of your wife’s friends.

These days you simply have to turn on your cell phone and find an instant and broad menu of x rated options to feed your unhealthy porn addiction. Best part is, nobody knows… that’s what you think. If you run across pornographic pictures of people under the age of 18 and happen to  download them, then you my friend are in possession of child pornography. Send the picture to friend? Distribution of child pornography.  Here’s the deal, pornography is highly addictive for most people, like heroin, alcohol, gambling, eating etc. the eye is never satiated. Like any addiction it destroys families, reputations marriages, relationships,  careers and just about anything else in it’s path. Pictures and videos are not satisfying your flesh addiction anymore  so you need to talk to a real person: Enter the Chat room, here you engage with real people with all kinds of motivations. Ready to live out some of those pornographic fantasies you’ve been perving out to? Perfect because there is a girl you have been talking to who just informed you that her parents will be out of town this weekend and she has been looking forward to spending the night with you for months. Her screen name is Heidihoe14 but her real name is investigator Simpson from the Miami Pedophile undercover unit and he has some pretty exciting experiences in store for you. He is tracking your internet address and as soon as you agree to meet your victim his quick response team will be on it’s way to intercept you and place you under arrest for soliciting underage girls for sex. Penalties for soliciting minors on the internet are severe. The difference between sex with a 17 year old and an 18 year old is about 8 years in the slammer. Here is a suggestion, DON’T DO IT! Furthermore, if you have a propensity to look at pornography get some help.

Here is a little truth…with a huge payoff.                                                                                    Galatians: 5:19

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (There is NO LAW)

To determine whether porn addiction treatment is necessary, you may be asked to consider which of the following statements are true for you:

• I feel powerless to resist the urge to view porn.
• I frequently spend more time or money on porn than I initially intended.
• I have made many unsuccessful attempts to limit or stop viewing porn.
• I spend a significant portion of time viewing porn, thinking about porn, or engaging in activities that will enable access to porn.
• I neglect family, social, or work obligations to view porn.
• I continue to use porn despite experiencing negative consequences.
• I pass up opportunities, or consider passing up opportunities, to have more time to use or view porn.
• I feel anxious, stressed, or irritable if I’m unable to access porn.

Get Help Now:

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

So if you’ve ever heard your parents say “choose your friends wisely” let me hear you say “YEAH”! Wow, that was loud. Yep, everybody knows the sayings of the wise. “If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.” “Birds of a feather flock together.” “Play with S#*T and get your hands dirty.” There is no shortage of clever warning phrases to keep us out of trouble. Here’s an all too common story… Your friend’s older brother is picking you and your friend up to take you to the movies. Your friend is really nice and your parents are fine with it.  They tell you to “Be Safe” and off you go. Everything is fine, the movie was great, brother comes back to pick you up and you are on your way home. Suddenly, BLUE LIGHTS! your friends brother is getting pulled over. Officer approaches the vehicle and asks the driver for his license and registration, shines the light on you and your friend and asks you to step out of the vehicle. You are now officially freaked out. The officer dips in into the front seat of the car and comes out with a straw, not a long straw, just half a straw with what appears to be residue from some white powdery substance on the inside of the straw… OFFICER: “What is this?” BROTHER: “I don’t know.” OFFICER: “What are you using it for?” BROTHER: “It’s not mine. I’ve never seen it before.” OFFICER: “Is it yours?” The blinding light from his flashlight makes your head spin, and you assume that he is asking you if the half straw that he pulled out of the ashtray in your friend’s brother’s car is yours. You say “No”. Your friend says “No.” The Officer informs you that unless someone admits to the ownership of the half straw found in the ashtray of your friend’s brother’s car, he is going to place everyone under arrest. The Charge – Possession of Schedule 1 or 2 Narcotic. (Code of Virginia – Crimes and Offenses.) 

CLASS 5 FELONY

§ 18.2-250. Possession of controlled substances unlawful.

It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess a controlled substance unless the substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.).

 

FACT: This happens all the time. I play “meet the parents” when this happens and it is usually between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM at a regional or county jail facility. I arrive armed with the power and credentials to post a secured bond along with contact numbers for resources to help the family get through the ordeal. I have a calling and compassion for people who get arrested, especially in the midst of unfortunate circumstances like these.