LOS ANGELES — “God forbid, but just in case…” is the motto of Cos Trujillo’s Aid and Abet Bail Bonds business in DTLA, a location Trujillo chose when he and his brother opened over 20 years ago, due to its proximity to the L.A. Metropolitan Jail just a couple of blocks away. Trujillo said things were different back when they first opened.
“I remember when [the bail bonds business] was more ‘mom and pop,’" he said. “I felt it was less restrictive and now the government has gotten involved to try to get rid of bail bonds.”
George Gascon kicked off his new post as L.A. County’s District Attorney with the announcement of sweeping policy changes, including an end to cash bail set to go in effect January 1, 2021. This change poses a real threat to Trujillo’s business which posts bail for criminal defendants who can't afford it, taking a percentage off the top which is commonly 10%.
Trujillo said he has always worked with families on payments, “So that person could get out for whatever reason, whether they need to go back to work, immigration status, etc.”
The issue of bail bonds was put before voters in November (Proposition 25) and Trujillo said the message was clear.
“Angelenos voted and said that they want to keep cash bail. So, the people have spoken because they know that they can't trust the DA, or the judge, or somebody to depend on them to say, ‘Hey, we're gonna let you out on your own recognizance.’”
The final tally on that proposition vote was 56.4% to 43.6% against replacing cash bail with risk assessment procedures for detainees awaiting trial.
Trujillo said his business has already been hit hard by the pandemic and that Gascon’s approach to eliminating a huge portion of pretrial incarceration might be the final straw to keeping his business afloat.
“I had to furlough my staff to 50% and just yesterday when I heard the news, I told him that there was a potential that we're going to close,” said Trujillo. “I have three kids in private school, I'm blessed. You know, I work hard, but it's going to affect my family and for my staff who have kids and families themselves.”
Cash bail has long been criticized for unfairly punishing the poor who can't afford exorbitant fees, which can run in the tens of thousands of dollars. Trujillo said his business has always worked with families to make things manageable financially, but simply releasing defendants with no financial consequence or responsibility on their part is potentially dangerous.
“That’s going to hurt taxpayers. That's going to hurt victim’s rights,” said Trujillo. “If you want to fix things, you don't just eliminate it. You try to work with it, and I feel that Gascon is just trying to get it eliminated.”
While many are applauding Gascon’s new policies, they have also received significant criticism, but as we head into the holidays and approach January 1st, Trujillo wonders if, come the New Year, he will still have a business to return to.