Amanda Doyle works in a male-dominated field. The owner of Blondies Bail Bonds, Doyle says people are typically surprised to learn about her line of work but that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Apart from being able to craft an image to stand out from the competition, she says motherly compassion helps her connect with clients in ways others may not be able to.
Who are your clients?
My customers come from all walks of life, from the person who decides to drink and drive to those committing burglary or home invasion — even a murder charge.
Not all of my customers are criminals — you can be arrested for outstanding traffic tickets or unpaid parking tickets. You can even be arrested for jaywalking.
There is a stereotype that goes along with jail. My customers are moms, dads, members of the PTA — you name it, I’ve bailed them out.
How is a bond calculated?
When someone is arrested and taken to jail, they are usually granted a bail amount. A family member or friend, sometimes even the inmate, will call me and arrange bail to be posted. In return, they pay a fee and must have collateral to pay for the bond in the event of a forfeiture.
Nevada has a state-mandated amount of 15 percent. Along with that also comes some miscellaneous bond fees paid to the courts.
We’ve all heard the term “jumped bail” on television and in movies. Does that really happen? What are the consequences following an incident like that?
It happens often, actually. A defendant will decide they’re not going to show up at court. At that point, we try to resolve the issue by contacting him or her, as well as the co-signer. The last result is to arrest the defendant if we can find them. The co-signer is responsible if the defendant doesn’t take care of it.
What are the advantages or disadvantages of being a female in the bail bonds industry?
Some of the advantages are great intuition and the fact that I’m a mother, so I have that motherly compassion. I treat every call like it’s my family.
Most of the calls I get are from women — the mom, wife or girlfriend — so immediately I make a connection with that person. As a woman, I care more. Most importantly, I listen and I’m patient.
A disadvantage is trying to make a name for myself in a male-dominated business. When people hear what I do, I often hear, “Really? I always thought of that being a man’s business.”
What is the best part about doing business in Las Vegas?
The variety of customers I meet daily. The personal relationships I develop. Las Vegas has a nice mix of locals and visitors.
What is the hardest part about doing business in Las Vegas?
The court system is slow here, and I often wait hours for the system to update — sometimes eight hours. Each jurisdiction has its own set of rules and, while a case is under review, bail can’t be posted. That time holds me up from conducting business.
Because of overcrowding of the jails, they often grant OR’s — release on your own recognizance. It seems like a waste of time and taxpayers’ money to arrest someone, make them go through the process — which is an all-day affair — then release them on an OR. Not to mention the times when I go to post bail and they then tell me they were granted an OR. If the system was updated in a timely manner, I would have known that. It can be frustrating.
Another issue with this business is you must be careful who you are bailing out. Tourists often forget they need to come back to Las Vegas to answer to charges. Then I must start the process of hunting them down.
What is your business philosophy?
I want to help bridge the gap between the law and my customers. My job is to ease the stress of an unfortunate event and turn it into a positive one.
The person in jail and on the other end of the phone is going through enough already. They need to get back to work, handle their children, etc. I make the process as easy and convenient as I can.
What’s the best business advice you’ve received?
Listen! Listen to what people are saying — they will usually tell you what you need to know, if you ask the right questions. In this business, you meet people who will say anything to get out of jail, so I must always be on my A game.