PBUS

10/16/2026

Indiana Public Question 1 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution’s bail clause. It will appear at the top of the Nov. 3 ballot.

Right now, Indiana’s constitution has guaranteed the right to bail since 1851 for anyone charged with a crime other than murder or treason. The ballot asks whether the Constitution should be amended to provide that a person charged with an offense other than murder or treason is not entitled to bail if (1) the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions will reasonably protect the safety of any other person or the community. The question concerns Article 1, Section 17.

In practice, it is a preventive detention measure that would allow judges to deny bail on charges beyond murder and treason. Sen. Eric Koch has argued that federal courts already deny bail to defendants in some cases and that Indiana should have similar tools. The House passed Senate Bill 3, which sets the ballot wording, by a vote of 63-22. To take effect, it needs approval from a majority of voters casting ballots on the question.

Critics have attacked both the substance and the wording. One commentary in the Indiana Lawyer argued the amendment amounts to preventive detention that strips a fundamental constitutional right. The same piece objected that the ballot language reads at a college-junior level and that the word “provide” makes a measure removing a right sound like it grants something. Sen. Rodney Pol supported letting voters decide but questioned whether the wording makes clear how broadly bail denial could apply.

Hoosiers will decide in November whether judges can deny bail in more cases.

10/16/2026

CAPS – Colorado Association of Professional Sureties: The Debrief

Tuesday started early in Denver. CAPS was on site greeting guests, vendors, and sponsors. If you have ever spent time with bail agents, you know we are always looking for a good meal with friends and fellow professionals.

The afternoon was spent talking about association leadership and sharing ideas and experiences. CAPS then hosted a dinner reception at the Marriott Denver Thornton — a beautiful facility.

Wednesday morning started early with plenty of coffee and the final touches for the conference. Vendors set up while more coffee was poured for a classic conference beginning. At 10 a.m. sharp, the program began.

PBUS Board of Directors member Dennis Sew opened the day by discussing the value of a national presence at state associations. He shared how PBUS is evolving and shaping the organization to address the challenges the profession will face in the years ahead.

PBUS President David Stuckman and Executive VP Gerald Madrid were also present, and the national leadership expressed appreciation for the hospitality and invitation to the 2025 Bail Conference.

Next up was Mike Morrison, President of the Mississippi Bail Agents Association. His presentation focused on social media for associations and individual bail agents. It was a frank and direct conversation that many said needed to be had years ago. The perspective and public image of our profession is the responsibility of everyone involved in bail.

During the morning, several Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented. Honored for their decades of work on behalf of the profession were PBUS President David Stuckman, David “Red” Whilheim, and Glen Younger.

The conference was also excited to welcome three Colorado business owners running their first campaigns for the legislature — Michelle D. Lee, Sara Woodson, and Jonathan Post (District 46) — along with Christopher A. Richardson (District 56) and Dan Woog (District 19), both seeking reelection.

It was valuable to spend time with them and show who we are. They stayed for the conference.

Lobbyist Corky Kyle presented “The Empty Chair,” stressing that effective legislative programs start months before the session by identifying priorities, educating members, developing a clear message, and building relationships with candidates and elected officials early.

The CAPS Board of Directors did an outstanding job keeping the conference moving while making it both entertaining and informative.

Christy Oliver from Clover discussed the services their company has tailored specifically for the bail profession. Christy serves as the national representative dedicated to helping bail agents.

Scott Williams, President of the Bail Bond Division for Lexington National Insurance Corporation, delivered a powerful PowerPoint presentation.

Chris Blaylock, Senior Vice President, Bail Division – Universal Shield Insurance Group, presented “Bail Trends Across the United States.”

Andrew Britt, Esq., presented on “Writing Motions,” which was followed by an excellent Q&A session.

The conference closed with the introduction of all the vendors and sponsors. The vendor turnout was outstanding, setting a conference record this year.

10/16/2026

February 25, 2026: The Day Everything Changed in the World of Bail

Eleven months of new faces, new ideas, and a united purpose. The 2027 Winter Conference will show what we have built.

February 25, 2026, is the date everything changed in the world of bail. That was the opening of the PBUS Winter Conference, and anyone in the room could feel it. There were a lot of new faces. Leaders from state associations across the country were there. And the message that day did more than talk at people. It motivated them, it changed how they saw this profession and their place in it, and it built something that is still growing. The results have been unbelievable.

Eleven months later, planning for the 2027 PBUS Winter Conference is being finalized, and so much has happened in between. New faces. New ideas. Rebranding and redesigning. Through all of it, unity and purpose have been the mission. PBUS leadership has spent eleven months traveling across the United States doing more than talking, carrying one message to bail agents everywhere we go: we can win this. But nobody wins this alone. There is no “I” in team.

Leadership has welcomed so many people who have always wanted to participate, and they are participating now. They are bringing experience, ideas, and energy into the Association, and they are being heard. That door is open, and it will remain open.

The work is happening on the inside as well. The Certified Education programs are being updated. Technology is being used to make the Association more efficient. Training is being targeted to the needs bail agents face today, while we plan for what this profession will need in the years ahead.

You may have heard the saying “This is not your Grandfather’s PBUS.” That does not mean we left behind the lessons and experience of the past. Instead, we are working side by side with the groundbreaking leaders who built this Association, and together we are taking PBUS and the bail profession to the next level. What they built is the foundation. What we are building now stands on it.

If you want to see the difference, just follow the Association’s social media program. We are not reposting a news article from a TV station and calling that communication. We are the news. We are the events. We are the leaders. We are the message. And while we tell our own story, we are training our future leaders to take over and lead this profession into the future.

Eleven months, and the world has changed. Over the next twelve months or so, you will want to join, participate, speak up, learn, and grow with us as we evolve into the next generation of Professional Bail Agents. If you aren’t feeling the excitement yet, come to a state association meeting and meet your PBUS Team. Uncle Sam said it best: “We want you.”

In closing, there is a rule we all follow. We accept that we will disagree from time to time. Adults understand this, and adults accept this. However, at all times we will respect our differences and listen to one another. We will debate. We will discuss. And we will vote. Sometimes the vote goes one way, and sometimes it goes the other. The lesson, and the key to everything we have accomplished, is that whatever the outcome, we continue to move forward as an Army for Bail.

10/16/2026

Prayers for her family

It is our sincere regret to inform our members of the death of CJ Nemeth. She passed away on the evening of October 14, 2026. CJ served the association as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and as president. She was a encyclopedia of all things bail, a treasurer trove of bail related stories, a mentor, and a true friend. The family will make funeral/celebration of life plans at a later date.

10/15/2026

Proposed amendment gives Tennessee voters a chance to change bail

A proposed amendment that would change bail processes is sparking debate among Memphis voters.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. —
Tennessee voters are weighing a proposed constitutional change that could expand when judges can deny bail before trial.

Supporters said it would give judges more authority to uphold public safety, while opponents warned it could lead to more people being held in jail before their cases are resolved.

mendment One would allow judges to deny bail for certain offenses when the required legal standard is met. It also requires judges to explain their decisions on the record.

Amendment One names several serious offenses, but it also includes a broader provision tied to how much of a sentence someone must serve before release. That raised questions about the amendment’s reach and what it could mean for people who have not been convicted.
Aaron Marble is a senior pastor at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville. He said communities can be safe while still protecting people’s rights.

“We care about safe communities. We care about survivors. But we also believe people who cause harm should be held accountable. But justice and safety are not enemies,” said Marble.

Memphis attorney Michael Working believes people need to make sure they truly understand the scope of the amendment.

“It makes it look like this will only be used for horrible crimes, at least second-degree murder, aggravated r**e, things that sound horrible, and then in the fine print, it says or any other crime for which truth and sentencing applies,” said Working.

Working said that final provision could extend the amendment beyond the offenses specifically named on the ballot.

However, supporters of the amendment said the change would give judges more discretion in certain serious cases, not require them to deny bail in every case.

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference said they strongly support this amendment, saying they believe, “protecting the public and ensuring the safety of crime victims must be central considerations in our criminal justice system,” and that they support it because, “it provides judges with additional authority to address those concerns in cases involving some of the most serious offenses under Tennessee law.”

A proposed amendment that would change bail processes is sparking debate among Memphis voters.

10/15/2026

10/15/2026

State Rep. Vincent Dixie urges Tennessee voters to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand when judges can deny bail before trial.

Tennesseans...Never give up your constitutional rights to the government. First, it's your right to bail...then what? Your right to free speech? Your right to bear arms? VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 1

https://bit.ly/4yQhPG6

State Rep. Vincent Dixie urges Tennessee voters to reject a propose...

10/14/2026

Sponsor/Vendor introduction

10/14/2026

Jonathan Post candidate for Colorado District 46

10/14/2026

Christopher A. Richardson Colorado District 56 running for reelection!