As we begin Season 5 of the Bail Post, we are talking about the importance of engaging in public relations in the Criminal Justice System.  One of the things that we have learned over the years is that the activists will never admit that they are wrong or that they are doing more harm than good.  Also, they have learned how to inundate google with pseudo studies that are really nothing more than dressed up press releases from these same groups that many times actually contradict what the actual science says should be the proper course of action.  Therefore, if we are not telling the positive stories of the bail industry and the Criminal Justice System, then these stories will not be told.  If we are not highlighting what the actual science says then many times no one will.  

Our guests on today's episode of The Bail Post is our PR Team- Cara Downs and Elliott Chang who are Media Vista PR.  If you would like more information about Cara and Elliott contact them directly at:

Elliott@mediavistapr.com

Cara@mediavistpr.com

Episode No. 72- What Has PR Done for the Texas Bail Industry With Guests Cara Downs and Elliott Chang

On August 22, 2025, Iryna Zarutska was killed at the East/West Boulevard station on the Lynx Blue Line, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who had fled her country because of the Russian invasion, was stabbed from behind three times while seated on the train.  She did everything right.  She and her family immigrated to the United States legally.  They had a sponsor.  She was attending college and was working at a pizza shop.  At the time of the stabbing she was traveling home after work.

The entire event was captured on video.  Initially, the video was not seen by the public.  Then everything changed when the mayor of Charlotte thanked the press for not distributing the video.  Then the video was everywhere.  

In response to this terrible event, the North Carolina legislature passed Iryna's Law.  It was signed by the Democrat Governor.

Join us on this episode of The Bail Post as we discuss the events leading up to this tragedy and the statute that was passed in Iryna Zarutsha' honor.

Our guest is the President of the North Carolina Bail Agent's Association, Julie Henderson.

Episode No. 73- Let's Find Out What Is Iryna's Law With Guest Julie Henderson

 In 2020, there were protests in Seattle, Washington following the death of George Floyd.  For a period of 24 days, an area that became known as the Capitol Hill Occupation Protest (CHOP) was treated as an autonomous zone where the police did not respond to calls.  As a result, the CHOP zone became an example of what happens when police stop policing.  Dr. Eric Piza and Dr. Nathan T. Connealy largely used data from the City of Seattle Open Data portal, analyzing data from more than one year prior to CHOP with two microsynth models to understand average and seasonal crime trends.  Dr. Piza and Dr. Connealy looked at the impact of crime in three areas:  (1) the CHOP zone; (2) the two block radius around the CHOP zone; and (3) the precinct at large.

The results showed a significant increase in crime within the CHOP zone, the encompassing two-block area, and the overall East precinct service area during the occupation period.   The study suggests that calls to abolish the police compromise public safety.  

Although advocates argue the abolishing police would have a positive impact on crime, the science not only does not support this conclusion, it actually supports the opposite conclusion that when police stop policing crime increases dramatically.  

Episode No. 71- When Police Stop Policing With Guests Dr. Eric Piza and Nathan T. Connealy

Anne Marie Schubert is a career prosecutor.  Schubert earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Mary’s College of California in 1986 and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco in 1989. Her career experience includes being the Sacramento County District Attorney, Supervising Deputy District Attorney of the Sacramento District Attorney's Office, and Deputy District Attorney of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Schubert has been a board member of the National District Attorneys Association and has been affiliated with Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and Stand Up for Victims.

On this episode of The Bail Post we discuss how to identify soft on crime district attorneys and how to oppose them.

Episode No. 70-  Recognizing and Taking on Soft on Crime District Attorneys with Guest Anne Marie Schubert

On this episode of The Bail Post we discuss the 2025 Texas Legislative Session to highlight the major bail bills and proposed constitutional amendments that were considered.  We highlight important changes to 17.19 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.  Also, we highlight, SJR 5, SB 9 and SB 40 that were passed this session.  Our guests are the PBT Legislative Committee Chair Cory Lee and former PBT Legislative Committee Chair Scott Walstad.

The 2025 Texas Legislative Session

The Texas Legislature is in full swing.  A few weeks ago, the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee was conducting a hearing on multiple bail bills.  The ACLU of Texas gave testimony highlighting a story alleging that a defendant was lost in the Harris County jail for 18 years without  a conviction before his case was dismissed.  Of course, the headline was not correct.  A defendant had been arrested for capital murder and found incompetent to stand trial.  What followed was a cycle of the defendant being sent for treatment for several years, then moved back to the county jail to be re-evaluated to determine whether he was now competent to stand trial.  The cycle was repeated multiple times.  On this episode of The Bail Post we talk about mental health issues in the Criminal Justice System.  Contrary to what was reported to the House committee, the problem was a mental health issue not a bail issue.  Our guest is Ramey Heddins from MHMR of Tarrant County.  Join us as we discuss trying to fit the square peg of mental health issues into the round hole of Criminal Justice.

Episode No. 68- Understanding Mental Health Issues In The Criminal Justice System With Guest Ramey Heddins

On this episode, we talk immigration, deportations and bail.  Our Guest is Randy Adler.  Randy is a very good friend and we have known each other for many years.  Randy has been practicing bail law in the state of Texas for over 40 years.  On this episode we discuss what bondsmen can do when they post a bail bond for a defendant and then learn that there is a ICE hold.  This is an issue that has grown in importance with the changes made by the Trump administration regarding the border, illegal immigration and deportations.  How do these changes impact ongoing criminal cases?  Find out on this episode of The Bail Post. 

Also, on this episode we discuss the "Ex Parte Clear" case and an article written by the Municipal Association entitled "Clear as Mud."  We discuss these cases from the perspective of the bail industry regarding seeking a warrant pursuant to article 17.19 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Finally, we discuss the passing of a member of the board of the Professional Bondsmen of Texas.- Charlie Pickens.  

Episode No. 67- Immigration and Bail with Guest Randy Adler

Jim Quinn is a former assistant district attorney in Queens, New York.  His family has lived in New York for four generations.  Jim was on the front lines as New York passed bail reform through the the budget bill in 2019 and when it went into effect in January 2020.  Jim has written numerous articles about the New York bail reform and its impact on crime.  On this episode of The Bail Post we look back at 5 years under the New York bail reform law including the three roll backs by the New York legislature.  Join us and find out whether these reforms have been a success or whether they have been a failure. 

Episode No. 66- New York Bail Reform- 5 Years Later With Guest Jim Quinn

On this episode of The Bail Post, we discuss the major bail bills pending before the Texas Legislature.  There are two proposed constitutional amendments:  SJR 1 and SJR 5.  There are also two bills:  SB 9 and SB 40.  

SJR 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that states if you are charged with a felony and you are in Texas illegally and did not enter a port of entry properly, then you are not entitled to bail.

SJR 5 is a proposed constitutional amendment to expand preventative detention to give judges the discretion to deny bail for certain third time felons.

SB 40 states that no government funds may be given to a non-profit for the purposes of posted bail by a charitable bail fund.

SB 9 is a major bill that made up of changes to the bail process, adds new charges to the list of offenses to which no personal bond may be granted and makes minor changes to the charitable bail fund statute.

You can see these bills HERE [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11MQobDqMINIKGgtGo27zAjSf1wk-jiUN?usp=share_link].

These bills appear to be on the fast track.  They already have been voted out of the Texas Senate and are part of the Governor's priority items which means that they may have hearings, be considered and be voted on before March 15th.

Join us as we highlight these important bills and where they are in the legislative process.

Episode No. 65-  What Are The Major Bail Bills Pending Before the Texas Legislature With Guest Judge Woolley

At the end of the Star Wars movie "New Hope" the rebels have a great victory only to see the victory short lived in "The Empire Strikes Back."  On this episode of The Bail Post we find out the great victory of the November election is already slipping away in California and the entrenched advocates are well on the way with their "Plan B."  Our guest is a returning guest.  He is retired Chief Patrick Jordan.  He worked for the L.A. County Sheriff's office for over 30 years.  He has intimate knowledge regarding  the California Criminal Justice System the reforms that have been pushed for years.  





Join us as we discuss the November election and the both the success of the election and how the political advocates already are getting around the results.





Episode No. 64- How the Victory of the California Election in November is Slipping Away with Guest Patrick Jordan

With various attempts at criminal justice reform from New York to Texas to California, many people are confused as to what is working and what is not. The recent rise in violent crime across the country has been startling and law makers and the public alike are desperate to find legislation that is effective. The Bail Post is an on-going discussion that seeks to cut to the core of what successful criminal justice reform looks like and what measures have been disastrous. Join us and educate yourself about the best practices that jurisdictions must implement to keep their communities safe, while ensuring fairness to defendants.

Ken Good

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