Robert Miller

Under California's new "realignment" plan (AB 109), responsibility for more than 30,000 state prison inmates is being transferred to the local level where the responsibility for low-risk inmates shifts from the state of California to the counties.

Los Angeles is the second most populated city in the United States and the largest in California and the Western states. With a population of approximately 3.8 million it is the 14th largest city in the world and covers an area of 498 square miles.

For many people, the term "bounty hunter" evokes images from Wild West movies where deputized citizens were given legal authority to bring back wanted individuals "dead or alive" in return for a "handsome reward".

With approximately 20,000 detainees, the Los Angeles County jail system is collectively the largest jail in the world and the most expensive in the United States costing nearly $1 billion a year to operate.

Maybe it's the call in the middle of the night that you hope will never happen to you or maybe its a call that you expected all along, "Please help I've been arrested and I'm in jail" phone call from a friend, family member or maybe even your own spouse.

Although bail and bail bonds exist in all fifty states, each state has its own set of laws, statutes and licensing requirements. In the state of California there are two entities that set bail bond laws and regulations: California Insurance Department and California Penal Code.

Just before a judge pronounces "bail is set at …," a fascinating history dating back to medieval times has preceded the frequent court event. While bail bond hearings and the modern American courtroom go hand and hand now, the process is steeped in ancient tradition and an almost folkloric quality.

Some bail bond agents in Orange County, Calif., have been hoping a judge would bail them out for a change. They said "guerilla marketing" by other bail bond agents has been unfair and detrimental to the bail bond business.