Susan Shapiro

Beyond the Bond: The Deep Roots and Vital Future of Modern Bail

The bail system is often misunderstood as just a financial transaction, but historically and structurally, it is one of the foundational pillars of the justice system. As a true historical survivor, the concept of bail predates the United States itself rooted deeply in English Common Law and surviving centuries of

The Illusion of Insulation: Why Commercial Surety Must Stand Against SB 562

There is a dangerous comfort zone in the surety industry right now. For decades, a quiet dividing line has existed between commercial/contract surety and judicial bail. The prevailing wisdom among contract producers has been simple: “Bail is tied to the volatile politics of the criminal justice system. Our world

Fight Against SB562

Stand with me in the fight against SB562 TO: Members of the California State Legislature RE: OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 562 To the Members of the Legislature: I am writing to express my adamant opposition to Senate Bill 562. While framed under the guise of consumer protection and financial equity,

Iron Sharpens Iron: Why California’s Pretrial Crisis Demands True Risk Assessment, Not Bureaucracy

There is a growing crisis in California’s courtrooms, and it isn’t just a matter of clogged dockets or standard political debate. A flood of Kowalczyk motions has forced judges across the state to rapidly review and slash bail amounts, compelling the release of individuals who, just weeks ago,

The $20k Cliff: Why a Uniform Bail Schedule Will Crush Us

To the lobbyists and bail associations: We need to stop debating policy in the abstract and look at the cold, hard math of our balance sheets. There is a lot of noise about Own Recognizance (O.R.) expansion. While concerning, we know how that pendulum swings. O.R. selectively targets

Stop Blaming the Calendar: The Execution Gap Killing Your Bail Numbers

Every competitor in this market looks for an easy exit ramp when the numbers dip. It’s a classic industry reflex: you look at last year’s historical charts, notice a seasonal slump, and tell yourself, “Well, it’s just a down week for the market.” That excuse is comfortable,

Leniency Breeds Absconding, Not Compliance

When you are in this business as long as I have been you will not always agree with those closest to you. That’s ok. The argument that California’s lower conviction rates are driving down failure to appear rates fundamentally misunderstands human behavior, as leniency never breeds compliance, consequence

The Revolving Door: Why California’s Justice System Needs a Dose of Common Sense

Every Monday morning, small business owners across California brace themselves for the same thing: the latest news out of Sacramento detailing a fresh attack on our livelihoods. For those of us working in the justice system, it has become a relentless, exhausting routine of playing defense against a wave of

Alabama, Why?

Alabama voters just overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the State Constitution, expanding Aniah’s Law to severely restrict the constitutional right to bail. Originally passed in 2022 to target capital offenses, this new expansion adds solicitation, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and discharging a firearm into an occupied building

Featured

The Human Element: Why Sacramento Has Forgotten the Real History of Bail

There is a deep historical irony playing out in California’s state capitol. For years, Sacramento has been the epicenter of a national legislative push to dismantle the commercial bail system, replacing it with cold, automated computer algorithms and taxpayer-funded government bureaucracies. The lawmakers pushing these agendas claim they

The Domino Effect: Why Bail Agencies Actually Fail

Nobody wants to talk about loss until they are already in the thick of it. Let's be honest, talking about policies, procedures, and preventative risk measures isn't flashy. It’s the forward thinking conversation most agents, and owner's avoid until the worst happens. Here

Why I do, what I do ?

When I look at why I spend so much time putting all these details of the bail industry into a blog, it comes down to a harsh reality: If I don't write our narrative, the people trying to destroy us will! When I started in this industry over

Beyond the Legislation—A Request for Real Dialogue

For over 30 years, I have watched the sun rise on a profession that is as misunderstood as it is essential. Like many in my industry, I am not looking for a fight. I am looking for a Monday morning where our value isn't a debate, but a

Why the Defeat of SB 1026 is a Win for Public Safety and Accountability

The news out of Sacramento today is a powerful reminder that secured bail remains the gold standard for ensuring defendant accountability. With SB 1026 officially held in committee, our profession has the opportunity to continue proving that the private bail system is not just an industry it is a vital

The Underwriter’s Trap: Why You Need Both the Hunter and the Chess Player!

In the bail industry, we operate in a world of high velocity decisions and long-term consequences. Every time the phone rings at 2:00 AM, a battle begins in the mind of the professional. It’s a tension between two distinct personas, The Hunter and The Chess Player. If

The Kowalczyk Crisis: When Legal Theory Ignores High-Risk Reality

The California Supreme Court’s recent ruling in In re Kowalczyk is being hailed by some as a victory for equity, but for those of us on the front lines of public safety and judicial accountability, it represents a dangerous pivot toward unmanaged risk. By mandating that bail must be

The Reality of Bail: A Transfer of Custody

The most common misconception about bail is that it is a simple "get out of jail" fee a financial transaction that ends the moment the paperwork is signed. In reality, bail is a sophisticated transfer of custody from the state to a private guarantor. Read that again, transfer

The Ironclad Executive: Leading with Precision in a High Stakes World

In an industry where the stakes are measured in freedom and financial risk, the landscape is often viewed through a lens of traditional toughness. As a woman serving as Managing Partner and Executive Vice President, I’ve learned that navigating this male dominated space isn't about conforming to

Why Algorithmic Justice is a major fail for America!

We are told that moving toward automated "Pre-trial Risk Assessments" makes the legal system more objective. In reality, we are trading human connection for a "black box" that ignores the very foundations of our community. When we replace the human element with a computer code,

Who Loves the 80% Co-signor?

In the bail industry, there’s a common misconception that we are always hunting for the "perfect" cosigner, one with the pristine credit, the paid-off mortgage, and a deep well of cash. But after thirty years in the trenches, I’ve realized that the "perfect"

Why California Needs Bail!

The debate over cashless bail is often framed as a matter of legal reform, but for the victims of crime, it is a matter of immediate safety and the integrity of justice. When the justice system removes the "financial anchor" of secured bail and the oversight of the

Underwriter Reality

The Underwriter’s Reality At 2:00 AM, the rules don't change, only the pressure does. If you are the "stop gap," you are the difference between a booked premium and a lost client. • Persistence vs. Annoyance: Six calls at 2:00 AM isn't

Unsecured Bail

Who Will Really Pay? You, The Taxpayers! The debate over "cashless bail" often overlooks the most critical component of a functional justice system, consistent oversight. While proponents of cashless systems advocate for risk-based release, they often fail to address the administrative gap that occurs once a defendant

Where do you fall?

Success in fugitive recovery isn’t about the "lucky break", it’s about the disciplined process of identifying the emotional and community anchors that bring a defendant back to court. While luck is a shallow puddle that dries up when the trail goes cold, a professional process is

SB 562 Ashby

I stand firmly against senate bill 562.  I would argue that the bill oversimplifies a complex issue. Instead of reforming problematic practices, it attempts to eliminate cash bail entirely. The cash bail system is not perfect but it is a customer based, risk assessment business that benefits each and every