The fastest way to get out of jail in Corpus Christi could very well be through A&A Bail Bonds, a company that has embraced new technology in a business as old as bounty hunters and sheriffs. From when a bond is set by a judge to the release of a defendant could take between a few minutes and just a couple of hours, said owner Warren Alkek, who operates bail bond offices in Corpus Christi, Victoria and other parts of South Texas.
“We do online bonding, and we have our own app,” Alkek told Corpus Christi Business News. “Someone who is out of state — or in another town and their kid is in jail in Corpus Christi – they can go online, fill out an application, take care of fingerprints, everything, online.”
The modernization of a business as old as crime can be seen as soon as you pull into the parking lot of the office building at 1422 Leopard St. in Corpus Christi. Built just eight months ago, the company’s new home reflects the professionalism on which Alkek prides himself.
“This is no different than getting a mortgage for your house or a loan for your car,” he said. “Our offices are not like the typical image of a bail bond company. We are totally different from anyone else out there.”
A&A Bail Bonds also sets itself apart from competitors because it doesn’t usually take collateral. While most bonding companies want property titles to back a client, Alkek trains his staff to put their trust and confidence in the people with whom they are dealing.
“In 20 years, I’ve never seized anybody’s property,” he said. “I don’t operate like that.”
A&A Bail Bonds also does not charge interest or late fees.
“Putting the emphasis on the defendant and the bond co-signer, rather than on the crime or the money, helps protect community safety,” Alkek said. “If we feel that a person is a threat to the community or is a repeat offender and should not be out on the street, we don’t get them out. I don’t want the liability either. That also sets me apart from some.”
Adding technology, such as the new kiosk in the office for filling out forms and video conferencing, could create a sense of detachment and dehumanization, but Alkek disagrees. The technology adds speed and accuracy, but the final key to his success lies in the personal and professional treatment of his clients and their co-signers.
“We treat people with respect,” he said. “When I post a bail, I’m posting it on a person, not on the dollar.”
Do the job right, he continued, and at the end of the day, the co-signer feels good about you.
“No one wants to give you $10,000 and think you’re not going to take care of them,” he said. “They need to know unconditionally that we are there for them. We are not your typical bonding company, and that’s what makes us successful. That’s what sets us apart.”
In Corpus Christi, A&A Bail Bonds is located at 1422 Leopard St. Call (361) 885-0000. In Victoria, the office is located at 203 N. Moody St. in a renovated historic home. Call (361) 578-9197. The company also has offices in Goliad, Port Lavaca, Edna, Cuero and Refugio. For more information, visit aabailbonds.net. Offices are open 24 hours a day.