You Can Run, But You Can Hide

In this day and age, you might need to provide a bondsman with more than a name, address and phone number if you want to get someone out of jail.

Bail bondsmen are becoming more and more savvy when it comes to tracking down skips.  Sure, the questions a defendant is asked during the bail bonds approval process can seem a bit odd, but there is in fact a method to the agent's madness.

• Social media is often the key.  Asking for a person's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram info can seem a bit strange at first, but it's a pretty smart move. In 2009, a wanted fugitive was captured after updating his Facebook status to let everyone know he was happily living in Mexico. Suffice to say, this played a big role in his eventual capture.

• Tell me about your kids... One bondsman said she asks for the names and birth dates of the defendant's children.  This line of questioning is a bit easier to decipher. If dad is on the run and junior has a championship soccer match, there's always the chance that pops will try to peek in on the action.

• List all 'yo baby mamas and baby daddies... You may have heard the phrase 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?'  Well the same goes for a woman who is owed back child support.  She can be an invaluable resource when it comes to tracking down a skip.  If the fugitive is a female and she didn't have the best relationship with her baby daddy, he might be equally motivated to get her tossed back into jail.

• Whatcha drive?  This question is less about talking shop and more about establishing a pattern of behavior.  If someone is on the run from the law they often fall back into old habits.  This includes driving around town in a vehicle that reminds them their old ride.

• Where do you hang?  Sure, a person who's on the run isn't likely to make an appearance at their favorite watering hole, but if they prefer dive bars to fine dining, this answer provides information as to where the fugitive might be spending their time.

• What's your maiden name?  This is a no-brainer. Bail bonds professionals often find that a woman's maiden name is the most commonly used alias she's on the run from the law.

• Who in your family do you not get along with?  Another bondsman said he not only asks for this information on the application but he then circles that name in red ink.  If the defendant skips bail and the immediate cosigner has no idea where this person is, their least favorite family member is often the next call.

• Hey bro, got a smoke?  Some agents will ask a defendant what type of cigarettes they smoke. Although this won't likely provide a trail of breadcrumbs to their whereabouts,  tossed cigarette buts could indicate whether a skip has been driving a particular car or hanging out in a certain apartment.

So why is this information needed?  Does it really make a big difference when making the "to bail or not to bail" decision?  The answer is yes.

When a person skips bail this can be a stressful situation for both the bondsman and the person who cosigned for them, because if the fugitive isn't captured within a specified period of time, both parties will be liable to pay the full bail amount as a fee.   Depending on the size of the bond, this could be enough to force a company out of business.