Milwaukee County Executive Condemns Bondsmen Budget Provision

The Milwaukee County executive is joining judges, prosecutors and sheriffs across the state in condemning a new budget provision on bondsmen.

The Republican plan, introduced last night, would allow bail bondsmen to operate in Wisconsin for the first time in more than 30 years.

Governor Scott Walker vetoed a similar plan in the last budget after judges and prosecutors raised strong objections. The measure approved by the Joint Finance Committee early this morning would allow private bail bondsmen to operate in five of the state’s most populous counties, including Milwaukee, on a pilot basis. It would be reviewed after six months, at which time the state would decide whether to expand the program statewide.

Republican backers of the plan say private bail bondsmen work well in the 46 states that do allow them and result in more criminal defendants showing up in court after they’re charged. But Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele says Milwaukee County is using its own bail system that works better.

“The private company that wants to be paid to do this service boasts about a rate of people not showing on trial of 25 per cent – so only 25 percent, if you pay us, won’t show up for trial. Well, we’re already at 16 percent.”

The new Wisconsin plan allows judges to opt out of using private bail bondsmen, and it appears likely that many judges will. Bondsmen would have to pay a thousand-dollar license fee to register with the state. But Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, says that won’t make up for the loss in current bail money that helps fund victim compensation under the current system.

“We’re making it harder to compensate victims. That doesn’t make any sense. Who benefits from that? Someone trying to make a quick buck.”

Governor Walker today declined to say whether or not he supports the bail bondsmen plan. The plan is part of the budget bill and heads now for approval to the Senate and Assembly.