What is the Difference Between a Professional Bail Bondsman and a Surety Bail Agent?

LSH·
Bail Enforcement

The difference between a property bond and a surety bond is simply who is ultimately liable for paying the bond off in the event of a final judgment of forfeiture.  A surety bond is backed by a surety (or insurance) agency that the bondsman is qualified to write bonds on behalf and the bond works more or less like an insurance policy.  A property bond is collateralized by the bail bondsman’s own funds or property on deed with the jurisdiction that allows him or her to post bonds for its defendants.  Property bondsmen are also often referred to as “Professional Bondsmen” while those writing on surety are often referred to as Surety Agents.

Regardless of what type of bond is written, if a $10,000 bond goes into forfeiture then someone is going to be liable for the entire $10,000.

If a surety bond is forfeited… More about the Differences between a Professional Bondsman and a Surety Bail Agent

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LSH

L. Scott Harrell was the managing principal of CompassPoint Investigations, a thriving private investigation agency based in Pensacola, Florida, as well as the digital marketing and competitive intelligence consultancy, Broadside Incorporated.

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6 Responses

  1. Great article. Very informative! A bail bondsman is like a shady insurance broker. he insures that the accused will show for trial. if someone skips, the bail bondsman assigns the account to a skip tracer, or a recovery agent. they go bring the accused back to stand trial. (otherwise, of course, the bail bondsman forfeits the bond). the entity that covers his bond, a major insurance company, growls.

    recovery agents have no powers outside what is covered under the original bail agreement, and contract for the bond. most recovery agents are low life ex cons themselves. it’s a shady business.

  2. I am offended by this last post. Bail Bondsman are not shady Insurance agents. We provide a important role in the judicial system. I guess thsi last poster would say that when he goes to by a car and the sales person gives him a good deal and saves him money that that person is shady. So maybe next time your friend or family member gets arrested for making a simple mistake in life you can go down to the jail and shell out thousands of dollars from your pocket, and let the county hold your money for months until the case is over. But you or your friends probably never do anything wrong so you dont have to worry.

  3. I also am very offended by surety bond’s post. I started my recovery business 3yrs ago and have never had any complaints from anyone. Heck I’ve actually had defendants thank me. I also am a bond agent for alomost 2yrs, no complaints there either. And one last thing, your comment, “most recovery agents are low life ex cons themselves”, I served my country proud as a MP(Military Police) in the Army and still today I provide public service as a lic. Notary. I’m guessing you probably got that stereotype from Dog The Bounty Hunter???? What people don’t realize is that, that’s Hollywood, every state is different, and not all Receovery Agent’s are like Dog.

  5. That first post by “surety bond” is pathetic. I bet he doesn’t have the balls to talk that $#!+ to any recovery agents in a cage fight! I am a LIABLE general agent in the state of Indiana. I’m here to let you know, I am personally liable for all bonds written by all my agents. Yes I have a surety company backing me, because that is what’s required in Indiana. But I have to pay for any bonds forfeited, if I don’t, my license is suspended by the Indiana Dept. of Insurance. I have been in business for over 12 years and am the lead fugitive recovery agent also. Many thanks to all the US men, women, brothers, sisters, mothers, & fathers proudly serving in the military. BTW the US Dept of Justice statistics prove private bail bond agents provide the best appearance rates at the least cost to tax payers. If you don’t believe it, GOOGLE IT!

  6. It is truly amazing how bondsmen gegt blamed for all aspects of the judicial process. We have nothing to do with the amount of bond any defendant is given. We are required to have him in court when momma,police or relatives cannot find him. we are the only portion of the entire process which faces finiacial ruin if”little Jimmy” does not show up for court. The lawyer, judge,clerk will not lose if he fails to appear. We spend at least a half a day repairing mistakes that they make so that we will not have to pay any money. We are held responsible just because we used bad judgement unlike any of the above named officials who make mistakes daily and can keep rolling. The money we pay goes to help the school system operate more effectively. Do we get any credit for our contributioons? And lastly we do what we do at no cost to the tax payer and heree in is our biggest problem. We cost no any money so therefore no one gives a hoot bout us, I don’tr know why anyone would want to go into this business. By the way I an entering my 28th year of operatiopn and would not want to dO anything else……Surviving in North Carolina….Thanks for leting me vent.

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