What are white and blue collar crimes? To help you gain a better grasp of these types of crime, we outline them here. While these ‘collar crimes’ are not actual legal terms, they are commonly used to classify the nature of different crimes.

The term ‘white collar crime’ was coined in the 1930s, and it is used to designate crimes often committed by working professionals or administrators, who often wear ‘white collared’ dress shirts. White collar crimes generally include nonviolent crimes such as embezzlement, fraud, and identity theft. These types of crimes differ from blue collar crimes in two specific ways: they are usually very hard to prosecute, and they are usually very complex. This is due in part to the fact that perpetrators of white collar crimes are often sophisticated and cover their trail of evidence.

Blue collar crimes are less sophisticated, often more violent crimes. Usually committed by individuals outside of the professional class, these are crimes such as burglary, assault, and murder. If convicted, prison sentences for these crimes are usually longer and in higher security facilities.

Bail for White and Blue Collar Crimes

If you or someone close to you needs bail for white collar or blue collar crimes, call Georgia’s bail professionals today at 706-353-6467!

There are many complicated words in the legal system that often leave us scratching our heads. Two important words in the legal vocabulary are misdemeanor and felony. Do you know what these terms mean?

Misdemeanors and felonies are two classifications of criminal charges. Misdemeanors are less serious than felonies, and felonies typically carry heavier punishments.

While crimes that are considered misdemeanors and felonies differ from state to state, some crimes are almost always charged as felonies, such as murder. Some states distinguish misdemeanors and felonies by the sentences they carry – misdemeanors typically carry a 1 year maximum sentence, while felonies often carry a 1 year minimum sentence.

Additionally, some crimes may be charged as felonies or misdemeanors depending on the circumstances. The presence of a certain weapon or who the crime is committed against may bump a misdemeanor charge to a felony. The past criminal history of the person accused of the crime may affect how they are charged. If a person has several prior misdemeanor convictions for the same crime, committing this crime again may cause them to be charged as a felon.

Misdemeanor and Felony Bail

If you or a loved one are being held on misdemeanor or felony charges, call the team at Double O Bonding for fast, reliable bail. Our years of experience are put to work on your behalf! Call us today at 706-353-6467.

We often hear stories in the news of people being held without bail. If this is a guaranteed Constitutional right, how can judges hold accused persons in detention without bail? Here we offer some information on the factors that determine if bail will be set.

Nature of the Charges and the Defendant

A judge has discretion in deciding the amount of bail, and also if the defendant will be allowed bail on a case by case basis. While the Constitution does guarantee bail for all citizens, there are certain instances in which a judge may restrict bail, especially if the accused poses a safety threat to the community. These factors are often considered when deciding the bail amount, or if bail will be allowed at all:

• Safety threat to community
• Charged with a crime punishable by serious prison sentence or death
• Likelihood that the accused will flee to avoid trial
• Likelihood the accused may destroy evidence if released
• Mental status
• Criminal history
• Repeat felony offender
• Financial status
• History of drug and alcohol use

Posting bail to await trial in the privacy of your home is a privilege. While many factors influence the amount that bail will be set at, and while the judge has the power to decide this amount, respectfully cooperating with officials throughout the legal process will certainly play to your advantage when the judge is deciding bail. If you or a loved one need fast bail, call us today at (706) 353-6467! 

Earlier this year, Bud and June Runion of Atlanta were killed after responding to a Craigslist ad in McRae, Georgia. Their attacker claimed to have a vintage 1966 Mustang that the Runions were interested in purchasing. Upon investigation, the attacker in fact had no such vehicle and intended to rob the Runions, and the attacker is now facing armed robbery and murder charges.

Unfortunately, the dangers of e-commerce are a genuine threat in today’s society. Credit card and identity theft run rampant on the internet, so many folks turn to transactions by cash and check that inherently carry risks of their own.

Protect Yourself During In-Person Transactions

Craigslist has offered many helpful guides to reduce the chance you will be a victim of a crime when making a transaction from an ad online. Some top tips include:

• When possible, try to make transactions in person, and avoid buying items you haven’t seen. This will help you avoid paying for an item or housing that doesn’t exist.
• Never wire money – the person on the other end is likely a scammer.
• Meet only in a well-lit public place. Never make transactions in someone’s home or allow them into yours.
• Always bring a friend along and tell another person where you are going. Provide the information of the person you are meeting if possible.

If you or someone you know is being held while awaiting trial for internet scamming or other charges, call (706) 353-6467 for fast bail today! We take all types of cases for all sizes of bail. 

Visiting a close friend or a loved one who is serving a prison sentence can be a great boost to morale and a way to keep pushing on through this hard time. To assist you in visiting your loved ones, we have compiled some general guidelines on visiting Georgia detention and jail facilities. However, it is wise to contact the facility you will visit to learn about their specific visitation process.

Visitation Days, Dress, and Who Can Visit

1. Visitation typically occurs on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Some facilities split visitation days by their inmates’ last names.
2. Clothing for men and women must cover the shoulders and chest completely. Pants must be worn. For women, dresses and skirts may not be more than 2 inches above the knee. No see-through or mesh material, no offensive logos or writing, or suggestive or revealing clothing.
3. Family members and special relationship visitors are allowed to visit if they are approved to be on the inmate’s approved visitation list. The only items allowed in visitation are $20 for vending machines, baby formula and store-bought supplies, car keys, identification card, and other items identified by the facility. All visitors and all items will be searched.

If your loved one is being held in a facility before their trial in court, call our professionals at (706) 353-6467 or 1-800-660-6467 to post bail on their behalf! We are Georgia’s top bail bondsmen.

Convicted felons in the United States are often subject to restriction of their rights upon their release from prison. These restrictions vary by state, and knowing the restrictions on felons in Georgia is helpful in the wake of a felony conviction. Understanding your rights after a felony conviction can help you live your freedom to the fullest.

Restricted Rights

The state of Georgia limits several rights of a convicted felon. Convicted felons cannot run or be elected to public office or obtain a license to practice law. Felons are barred from practicing, teaching, or participating in martial arts of any kind. Felons are generally allowed to seek professional licenses in many industries, although agencies can deny a professional license to a felon if granting the license is against the best interest of the public.

Voting restrictions are revoked for felons who are currently incarcerated, on probation, or on parole, but are often restored if all terms and conditions are complied with upon release. Additionally, while U.S. federal law prohibits convicted felons from owning, purchasing, or selling firearms, the state of Georgia also bars felons from using firearms even on their own property. However, the state of Georgia is increasingly reinstating the right to bear arms for convicted felons, in the spirit of allowing second chances for all.

Over time, many felons can indeed have their rights restored. For further information on the restricted rights of felons in Georgia, call the professionals at Double O Bonding – we work for freedom on your behalf! Call us at (706) 353-6467 or 1-800-660-6467 to ease the bail bonds process today. 

Here in America, we place a lot of value on personal responsibility. When you live in society, you have to give up certain things for the benefit of the whole. One example of this practice involves drunk driving. Even though, technically, most people who drink and drive will never hurt someone, we’ve all decided that the risks of doing so outweigh the right. That means that even if you don’t hurt somebody, you become subject to arrest when driving drunk.

Drunk Driving Facts:

If you ever wondered what kind of information fuels drunk driving laws in the first place, we’ve presented some of it here:

• According to NHTSA, just short of 30 people die every day where one of the drivers in either vehicle had alcohol present in their body. That amounts to a death every 51 minutes.
• The NHTSA also reports that about 1/3 of fatal crashes involve one of the drivers having alcohol in their system.
• The age group between 21-24 had the highest rate of driving with a BAC over 0.08 (NHTSA).

We want to remind everyone to drink responsibly, and take personal responsibility. If you should find yourself in need of a drunk driving bond, Double O Bonding can help. To find out more, give us a call at (706) 353-6467 or 1-800-660-6467.

How to Stay Safe and Smart During an Arrest

Getting arrested is a traumatic experience where emotions are high. And just like in other times of crises, it is vital to keep your cool and have a few simple rules to keep in mind. By knowing what to do when getting arrested and following only a few easy rules, you can make the experience much less harmful to your person and your future. Also, the more cooperative you are, the faster the arrest ends.

It is very important to remember 4 basic rules when it comes to getting arrested:

1. Do Not Resist: If a police officer begins to charge you or pulls out their handcuffs, any possible other movements besides slowly putting your hands behind your head, in the air, or flattening yourself on the ground as instructed can be construed as acting aggressively. Not only can acts of aggression produce their own charges, but it can cause police officers to react defensively which could result in your getting hurt.
   Just remember, if you are being arrested, only move your hands when you are instructed to and be still otherwise.
2. Stay Quiet: It is your legal right to remain silent – which will be told to you upon Mirandizing. Use it. The less you say, the less chance of self-recrimination you have. More often than not, you are also fairly upset over being arrested. Nothing you can say in that moment, in a fit of well-deserved emotion, will help the situation. In fact, mouthing off to an officer can often hurt your case much more than you know. The arresting officer can, and sometimes has to, attend your arraignment and their testimony may influence the judge’s stance on your bail. This does not mean being unhelpful. If an officer asks you a direct question concerning any of your possessions or anything on your person, BE HONEST. This is for the safety of both the office and yourself. When it comes to dangerous weapons or substances, do not lie and do not let and put the officer at risk.
3. Be Respectful: This is a simple lesson we all learn in grade school but is entirely too hard to remember when it comes to emotional, traumatic crises like being arrested. However, the more respectful you are to the officers you come into contact with, the more likely they are to process you quickly. A fast process – or booking – means you can be bailed out faster. 
4. Contact a bail bond agent and lawyer as soon as possible. The bail agents at Double “O” Bonding are professionals you can count on. We know the law inside and out, we know the detention facilities you may be taken to, and we know how to act fast for your sake. The sooner we know you are in trouble, the sooner we can help you out of it.