Archive for the ‘Espanol Bail Bonds’ Category

Cuban Bail

Sunday, December 11th, 2016

Just got back from a ten day trip to Havana,Cuba. Going in I wasn’t sure what to expect,  I sorta had a vision of a strict depressing atmosphere somewhat like Romania or another Communist bloc country. I knew the climate would be pleasant, I lived in Puerto Rico for many years, another Caribbean island with a Spanish speaking population. I have to say that my opinion of Cuba was completely changed by my visit there.

Yes, there’s poverty to a large extent, but the average citizen is not resigned, nor sad, but content with Cuban life. Nobody goes without food or shelter, one of the pluses of a Communist government. The shortage of goods is due to Cuba being an island, almost everything needs to be imported. That doesn’t affect other islands in the area as much as Cuba, the difference here is the fifty plus years of a blockade in place by the United States. One of the biggest surprises to me was the fact that Cubans are allowed bail.

Say you have a fender bender with another car. If you can work it out between yourselves, there’s no need for the police to be involved. The problem arises, much like anywhere else in the world, when one person either can’t or won’t pay for inflicted damages.

I noticed that motorcycle cops didn’t chase drivers and pull them over. What they did was call ahead to the next officer usually stationed within the next kilometer or so and relay the car’s information. The advanced cop would pull the car over and ticket or arrest the car based on the first officer’s details. Less risk of accidents due to high speed chases I guess.

Bail is allowed for felony cases. According to Cuban law, a crime is defined as something prohibited by law and is harmful or dangerous to society. If a violation doesn’t meet the criteria of “socially dangerous” it’s considered to be a non criminal citation( like a traffic ticket). Felonies are crimes with a possible sentence of more than a year. Felonies are crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, car theft, assault and battery, drug dealing arrests, arson, vehicular homicide or injury, and burglary. These types of crimes ( especially murder, rape, or robbery) are subject to pre-trial incarceration as well as suspects of multiple offenses, or those considered flight risks. Misdemeanors however,  are usually not required to post bail nor subject to pre-trial detention, except as mentioned above.

Bail is paid directly to the state. In other words, there is no equivalent to a bail bondsman as we think of one in the US. Bail is secured based on the relative severity of the crime,with the accused released to the security of an employer, a union  or other state recognized organization, or possibly o.r. ( own recognizance). Many criminal cases are resolved using a day fine system. Article 35 of the Criminal Code (1987)protects defendants from excessive fines. The fine is calculated using a day rate (from a minimum of 50 cents to a maximum of $20) with the court taking into consideration the time of arrest and detention, the defendant’s earning, costs of living and the defendant’s number of dependents. An installment plan is also a permitted option.

Cuban law mandates that an accused person can’t be kept in custody for longer than 24 hours without their case being turned over to an investigator. The investigator then has three days to turn the case over to a prosecutor. That prosecutor then has three more days to either release the accused or turn the case over to a court that will review it. The court is  then required to either approve release or order continued detention, again within three days. You can see that the days start adding up, making a strong case for posting bail.

Going to trial in Cuba is similar to the process in the United States, with a few important exceptions. First, while a defendant has the right to an attorney, private attorneys are not allowed. Cubans have the right to have Spanish-speaking legal counsel from a nationwide system of law collectives at state set fees.

Ironic, that Fidel Castro, a former attorney abolished private practice of law, instead encouraging youth to pursue careers in science, engineering, and medicine. The Revolution emphasized other academic skills to the detriment of law study at the University of Havana’s College of Law. From 1964-1965 there were no new enrollments, and in 1978-1979 there were no law students graduating.

Second, while a defendant is presumed innocent until,proven guilty, he or she has no right to a trial by jury. Usually the defendant is the first person called to testify, although they may refuse if they don’t want to. ( kinda like pleading the Fifth Amendment?)

Yes, the accused has the right to a fair trial, but instead of a jury of one’s peers, a trial is presided over by a panel of three to five judges. The same panel of judges that hears testimony and determines guilt or innocence also imposes sentences. Sentences encompass a range from execution( for extreme cases like murder, child murder, and or treason), jail time, correctional work farms, probation, or fines. There have been examples of sentences of 15 to 20 years for murder, or 2 to 5 years for crimes like sling in foreign currency or burglary. Sometimes a misdemeanor can be charged more than the the usual one year or less; a simple drug possession charge could conceivably receive a defendant up to two years. A taxi driver told me that “you kill your mother in law, you get 5 years. You kill a cow, you get 8 years.”  He meant it as a joke, but certain crimes, considered offenses against the state include slaughter and distribution of livestock (beef) outside the socialist system of distribution. You don’t see a lot of beef being consumed in Cuba. The government controls much of the dairy and beef production, some private farmers are allowed to raise beef, but by law, they can only sell beef from cows that have died or been killed accidentally. This of course leads to a black market for beef, so unless a restaurant is government owned, and thus allowed to sell beef, what they are selling is illegal, and therefore highly expensive.

Within the Cuban legal system there is no alternative to formal criminal proceedings in court. The decision of the judiciary panel is final, there is no chance for appeal.

Orange County Bail Bonds Now Serving Los Angeles County

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Bail Bond Information Agency is excited and proud to announce the return of bail bonds in Los Angeles County. The Miller family first opened Los Angeles County Bail Bonds in 1963. Since then, the Miller family has been helping families in the Southland and throughout the nation with their bail bond needs.

The Miller’s uncle, Mike Yoakum Sr., started the business in a Pasadena bail bonds office in 1963. He then opened offices throughout the Los Angeles area. In 1998 Mike sold the Los Angeles County Bail Bonds offices to his nephew, Bob Miller, owner of Orange County Bail Bonds, together with Mike Yoakum Jr. they are re-opening offices for Los Angeles bail bonds. Mike grew up in the bail bond industry; from as far back as he can remember his Dad was always on the phone helping Los Angeles families with all their bail bond emergencies. Mike understands how traumatic it can be to have a loved one arrested and in need of bail. He knows the importance of making sure you have all the information you need to make the best decision possible regarding securing the release of your friend or family member.

Yoakum’s indoctrination to the bail bond industry began as a child as his father Mike Yoakum Sr. had already developed his own bail bond office and established himself as one of the leading experts in the bail bond industry, not only in Pasadena, but the entire county of Los Angeles.

Mike went to John Muir High School in Pasadena, California. In those days, being a bit on the wild side, he was more likely to be a client of his dad’s bail bond company than an employee.

But, he put those days behind Yoakum attended University of California Los Angeles, where he earned his degree in World History. His ties to UCLA run deep; in 1929 his grandmother, Jean Emerson Yoakum, wrote the UCLA fight song: Hail to the Hills of Westwood!

The Miller family, the Bail Bond Information Agency, takes great pride in helping Southern California families during the, often traumatic and stressful, experience of securing the release of their loved ones from all jails in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside Bail Bonds and Orange County. We provide fast and discreet bail service for Los Angeles bail bonds. We also service your bail needs in Ventura and San Diego County. Nationwide service is available, as well. Call us when you need a bail bond in Glendale, Pasadena, Los Angeles or anywhere in the country. We offer the lowest rates, financing is available (AOC) and collateral is not always required.

For more information on our services, please browse our articles, or contact us today at 800-422-4540 for quick bail service from our family to yours.