There is no evil empire here. All we're trying to do is save the taxpayers some money. We're absolutely guilty of that. Hurt and other county officials said the individuals, most of whom have been charged with misdemeanor offenses, would be released on bond anyway. The program is releasing the same group of people that the bondsmen are releasing, and we're going to supervise them.
Bondsmen have a different view, however.
His father, Bill, and Don Slatton, operate Abilene Bail Bond and SOS Bail Bond. I hate to say this, but they should hire two public defenders. The people that don't have an attorney don't pay us either. Taylor County officials didn't inform them of the program before or even after it was begun. The personal recognizance, or PR, program, which has been in place since 1991, was relatively uncontroversial until June 2, when county commissioners voted on several changes allowing the probation office to expand its clientele in an effort to reduce lawyer fees.