BONNEVILLE COUNTY - I've found some parallels between the bail bonds business and the rest of the economy.
"We serve as a pressure valve for the court system. In our country, people are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Because of that we offer bail bonds so that people can keep their jobs, keep working," said Michelle Thorne, with Michelle Bail Bonds.
"How has the recession affected your business?" I asked.
"What has changed is how we structure a bail bond... We have to be very creative, I'll take jewelry, guns, Lamborghini's, we'll take automobiles, we'll take any type of item that we can turn into cash to pay the court," said Thorne.
"Have you noticed an increase in crime because of the recession?" I asked.
"I haven't noticed a big difference," replied Thorne.
About 75-percent of Thorne's business is actually repeat customers, and that number has changed in 12 years.
"We're on a first name basis, and I know by the sound of their voice that it's them. And I think, oh know, what happened this time," said Thorne.
Nor has the amount of runners.
"During this recession I lost a bond that cost me 100-thousand to the court, but it wasn't because of the recession," said Thorne.
Over all, business is down for the bail bonds industry.
"When you see an increase in the amount of money that people are spending, you'll see the same increase within the bail bond business," said Danielle Kingston, daughter and agent of Michelle Thorne.
But during the Christmas season, people are more likely to bond out because they just want to be with family.
"Absolutely. People are putting up great sums of money rather than buying more gifts," said Nicole Andrews, daughter and agent of Michelle Thorne.
KIDK.com
