Orlando Sentinel: Judge Perry Agrees to Bail Bond Industry Demands on Pretrial Release

Posted by David Damron - November 10, 2009

"After a legal and political full-court press by bail bond agents, Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Belvin Perry agreed to change the rules governing a pretrial release program, he said Tuesday.

The judge's move could force an estimated 17 extra Orange County prisoners to either spend a night in jail before seeing a judge the next day - or pay a bail bondsman to get them out immediately. Under Perry's previous order, jail officials could determine if inmates qualified for the pretrial release program and release them before a judge reviewed the case. This was costing the bail bond industry business.

So the industry filed a legal challenge to Perry's order governing the pretrial release program. And in September, it sent 50,000 fliers to Orange homes arguing that the program released violent criminals from jail without ever seeing a judge.

Perry disagreed, and said that the rules he set up for the program followed state guidelines. But after consulting with Orange jail officials, Perry said he was comfortable with requiring pretrial release inmates to see a judge.

Accredited Surety and Casualty Company, the Orlando bail bond agency behind the fight, was pleased with Perry's rule change. A company spokeswoman said it, "prohibits jail staff from making any release decisions," and requires anyone not released on bond to have a judge look at their case."