Bail in the Midwest (Ep 51) - James Lindblad, Past President, Professional Bail Agents of Hawaii  May 26, 2026

17:00  “ … People can go in to stores and steal up to $1000 worth of stuff  …Hawaii District Courts will not hold a misdemeanor suspect longer than 72 hours… out of 20,000 HPD arrests, we’ve got 23-46 people at OCCC….”

Join host Shane Rolf and his guest, James Lindblad, Past President of the Professional Bail Agents of Hawaii, as they discuss the evolution and current challenges of Hawaii’s bail system.  Mr. Lindblad reflects on his career in pre-trial release work beginning in the 1970s and later as a bail bondsman, offering a long-view perspective on how bail practice has changed over time. 

The conversation focuses on Hawaii’s ongoing bail reform efforts and concerns that proposed changes are moving toward broader release policies that may not adequately consider public safety, flight risk or failure-to-appear history. 

He also addresses the role of organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the R Street Institute in shaping reform discussions, as well as legislative efforts including Hawaii House Bill 2413 and earlier task force recommendations, underscoring his call for a more balanced approach to pretrial justice in Hawaii....

2024: Reply to ACLU: Fixing Hawaii Bail Problem Requires Return to Core Constitutional Principles