The for-profit bail bond industry has a history of exploiting economically disadvantaged consumers in their most desperate hours: after the arrest and incarceration of a loved one. DCWP is leveraging all the tools we have to curb predatory business practices in the for-profit bail bond industry, which threatens the financial stability of families who often are already struggling financially.

The City Bail Law (Local Laws 142 and 143 of 2018) and the related rules require bail bond agents to provide every consumer with the Bail Bond Consumer Bill of Rights that DCWP created before entering into a contract. Download the Bail Bond Consumer Bill of Rights (formatted to fit on paper sized 8.5 x 14 inches) in:

English (Updated 10/2023)
Español (Spanish) (05/2019)
عربي (Arabic) (05/2019)
বাংলা (Bengali) (05/2019)
中文 (Chinese) (05/2019)
Français (French) (05/2019)
Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole) (05/2019)
한국어 (Korean) (05/2019)
Język Polski (Polish) (05/2019)
Русский (Russian) (05/2019)
ردو (Urdu) (05/2019)

On February 15, 2018, DCA filed charges against bail bond agent Marvin Morgan, and several insurance and management companies for engaging in deceptive and unlawful trade practices that preyed on vulnerable New Yorkers desperate to help bring their loved ones home. DCA encourages any consumers who were victims of Morgan’s deceptive practices to contact the agency to file a bail bond agent complaint by calling 311, or by filing a complaint at nyc.gov/dcwp.

Read DCA's comments to the New York State Department of Financial Services on proposed amendments to sections 28, 33, and 66 of title 11 of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations, which would regulate the bail bond industry (11/5/2018)

Local Law 142 of 2018 amends the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to disclosure of premium or compensation charged by bail bond agents. This bill would set up a complaint mechanism at the Department of Consumer Affairs for consumers of bail bond services to report violations of the maximum allowed bail bond premiums set by the New York Insurance Law. It would also require the Department to refer those violations to the Police Department for enforcement. The law takes effect on February 2, 2019. Download a copy of Local Law 142.

Local Law 143 of 2018 amends the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that bail bond agents make certain disclosures. This bill would provide to consumers of bail bond businesses and bail bond referral businesses information regarding their rights and basic information about the businesses themselves. Many bail bond businesses engage in unscrupulous business practices, and this bill would arm consumers with information, in multiple languages, so that they can avoid being taken advantage of. The law takes effect on February 2, 2019. Download a copy of Local Law 143.

Consumers can visit the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice for tips about the bail bond industry.