Can Police Search Your Cell Phone Without a Warrant?
Think back to your high school history class. Can you remember the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution? If it’s not on the tip of your tongue, you’re not alone. Most Americans are woefully unaware of their constitutional rights. But the contents of that amendment are worth remembering – it prohibits searches of your personal property, and that includes your cell phone. Constitutional amendments are one thing, but do they hold up in real life? The…
Where Does My Bail Money Go?
When an individual is sentenced to prison, their sentence includes the possibility of parole. Prisoners who commit particularly heinous or brutal crimes are often left to serve out their sentence without the possibility of parole. Many of us are familiar with these terms because we watch the news or crime dramas on television, but what does parole entail, exactly? Who decides to reward a prisoner with parole, and what goes into that decision?
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Getting a Bail Bond
If you or a loved one has run afoul of the law, any mistakes you make could slow down or jeopardize the bail bond process. The longer you stay in jail, the more likely it is that something will go wrong. From illegal interrogations to physical assault by other prisoners, anything can happen behind bars. ABC Bail Bonds is available 24/7 to help you find a way out as quickly as possible! Call us any…
Hurricanes and Inmate Overpopulation: The Impact on Harris County Jail Staff and Inmates
Ever since Hurricane Harvey demolished the Harris County Criminal Justice Center in downtown Houston in 2017, the justice system has been facing a backlog of mounting cases. This has been increasing the pressure put on the Harris County Jail—including its growing population of inmates. Related: A Grim Look Into Prison Life in Harris County Harris County Jail’s Inmate Overpopulation Takes a Toll on Staff According to Darryl Coleman, the chief of the Criminal Justice Command…
How to Find Any Inmate Arrested in Texas
We know how frustrating it can be to locate someone who’s been arrested. Sometimes, searching for an inmate is easy and simple—other times, it can be seemingly impossible. Unfortunately, many websites on the internet show expired inmate lists or lists that aren’t credible enough to maintain an accurate database. So how do you find an inmate easily and without hassle? Texas Department of Criminal Justice Inmate Database Thankfully, searching for an inmate is easy and…
When Harris County Bail Bond Companies Fought Back
Despite the request of three bail bond companies to delay the start of proposed revisions on new bail rules, a Harris County judge sided with lawyers for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and a list of new Democratic judges trying to loosen misdemeanor bail rules back in February. The three bail bond companies argued that the court-ordered bail reform—which is a key step in a very controversial legal fight over the pretrial detainment of poor,…
Bailing Someone Out of Jail? Read This First
Bailing someone out of jail? Before you sign any contracts, know what you’re dealing with first. There are many elements and key outlines that go into working with a bail bond company and cosigning to get someone out of jail. ABC Bail Bonds has been serving the Houston area for over 25 years, both bailing inmates out of jail and lending important information to all Harris County residents. Here’s what you should know before cosigning…
Surety Bonds: The Breakdown
Surety bonds are an insurance-like contract between three parties: the principal (you), the surety (us), and the obligee (the entity needing the bond). A surety bond financially guarantees the principal will act in compliance with any bond terms or laws. In other words, surety bonds make sure certain requirements and guidelines are met. When the three parties come together, they sign a legally binding contract to achieve that goal. What Is a Surety Bond? The…
How Bounty Hunting Works
In the Wild West, outlaws were quite difficult to capture. Local sheriffs didn’t have the resources or manpower to find and subdue these dangerous criminals, so they’d often let other people capture outlaws for a reward. Of course, this motivated many to act aggressively to find the wanted outlaws. “Wanted” posters offering large amounts of money motivated people to become what is now known as bounty hunters. These bounty hunters often stopped at nothing to…
5 Huge Reasons to Use a Bail Bondsman
No one likes going to jail, and bail bonds companies know that. That’s why their whole operation consists of bailing people out of jail as soon as they possibly can, allowing inmates to return home. When it comes to going to jail, the choices you make determine how your immediate future unfolds. No one enjoys being arrested, and no one enjoys sitting in jail. If you’re suspected of committing a crime, there isn’t much you…