ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 27, 2003) – Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert M. Bell signed an administrative order creating a task force to review the laws, practices and procedures governing bondsmen and bail bonds and make recommendations for improvement.

The decision to form a task force stems from a report of the Judiciary’s internal auditors, which indicates weaknesses in several areas. One of the anticipated changes is the automatic referral of information on suspected abuse or violation of the rules to the appropriate administrative agency or prosecutor for enforcement action.“The Judiciary’s audit staff alerted me to potential deficiencies in the current system,” said Chief Judge Bell. “These deficiencies have hampered our ability to monitor bail bonds effectively and to ensure compliance with statutes and court rules. Now that the audit is complete and the problems are identified, we are ready to take corrective action.”

The Honorable James N. Vaughan, Chief Judge of the District Court, and the Honorable Daniel M. Long, Chair of the Conference of Circuit Judges, will serve, respectively, as chair and vice chair of the Task Force.  The membership will reflect the diverse parties involved in the bail system, including judges and clerks of the Circuit and District Courts, District Court commissioners, and representatives of the Attorney General of Maryland, the Maryland Bar, the Maryland Association of Counties, the Maryland Bail Bond Association, the Maryland Insurance Administration, the Maryland Public Defender, and the Maryland State’s Attorneys Association.

"Each of these stakeholders have unique and critical roles in the bail system, and the Task Force’s purpose will be to encourage the exchange of information and ideas to address gaps in the current laws and develop detailed operating procedures allowing for an effective bail system,” explained Chief Judge Bell. Other interested persons will be afforded an opportunity to express their concerns and observations and will be called upon to provide their expertise to the Task Force as needed.

The Task Force will be charged with analyzing the current system, from bond acceptance to satisfaction or forfeiture, recommending policy, and drafting procedures to ensure compliance with applicable statutes, rules, and regulations and to facilitate monitoring.

Please contact the Court Information Office at 410/260-1488 for more information.