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30 Years of Bail Jumpers Owe Philly $1B

Outstanding payments date back to the 1970s

By Laurel Jorgensen,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 8, 2009 7:33 PM CST
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(Newser) – Criminal defendants who skipped court dates in Philadelphia owe the city a total of $1 billion, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. For decades, the city has done little to try to collect full bail payments from those who don’t show. Critics say the system is farcical. “Bail judgments just aren’t paid off unless something miraculous happens,” said a court administrator. Adds another: "It's a nasty process to collect."

New York and other cities expect 100% up front, prompting many defendants to go through private bail firms. In Philadelphia, courts do little to ensure people's ability to pay, critics say, and city lawyers don't go after the money. Prompted by the Inquirer, Philly has hired a collection agency to pursue the money—as the mayor pushes for a $1 billion cut in the city’s 5-year spending plan.

District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham wrote to the mayor of Philadelphia a decade ago about the bail problem, saying that it makes a mockery of the bail system.
District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham wrote to the mayor of Philadelphia a decade ago about the bail problem, saying that it "makes a mockery of the bail system."   (Shutter Stock)
Defendants in Philadelphia get little financial evaluation before bail is set. It would make sense, but if we did a means test, I'd need 27 more jails, an official said.
Defendants in Philadelphia get little financial evaluation before bail is set. It would make sense, "but if we did a means test, I'd need 27 more jails," an official said.   (Shutterstock)
The poverty of many defendants means that much of the bail money may be uncollectible.
The poverty of many defendants means that much of the bail money may be uncollectible.   (Shutter Stock)
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It's easier to bail out a rapist or murderer than it is to apply for a loan to get a used car. There is absolutely no research done as to their ability to pay. - Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Mark Gilson

There's millions of dollars in valid, enforceable judgments, and they go unenforced. Some of them might not be collectible, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be trying to collect them.
- Assistant District Attorney Mark Gilson
on Philly's bail problem

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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Shannonals
Feb 11, 2009 2:52 AM CST
Philadelphia needs the follow the standards of New York and other cities.
oldgoat
Feb 9, 2009 3:29 AM CST
Guess the colllection agency will get results then. We went to collection agencies just to get unpaid property tax.

Opinion: No easy fix for Philly's budget woes
Philadelphia Inquirer

 
debt • Philadelphia • bail • collection agencies • Philadelphia mayor

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