What information must a bondsman collect from a defendant before issuing a bond?

A bondsman must gather comprehensive information from a defendant before issuing a bond to assess the risk involved in guaranteeing the defendant's appearance in court. This includes personal details such as the defendant's full name, address, and contact information, as well as employment history and financial circumstances to determine the ability to pay for the bond and any associated fees. Additionally, obtaining the defendant's criminal history is crucial for understanding the individual's background and potential flight risk.

This thorough vetting process helps the bondsman make informed decisions regarding the bond issuance and ensures that the defendant can meet the obligations tied to their release. Collecting limited information, such as just the defendant's full name or family background, would not provide a complete picture and could increase the risk for the bondsman. Similarly, focusing on social media accounts does not hold relevance in the context of assessing a defendant's reliability for bond purposes. Thus, gathering personal details, criminal history, employment, and financial information serves as the essential foundation for the bondsman's responsibility in the bonding process.