A bail bondsman, bail bond agent or bond dealer is any person, agency or corporation that will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of a defendant in court. Bail bond agents are almost exclusively found in the United States, as the practice of bail bonding is illegal in most other countries. The industry is represented by various trade associations, with the Professional Bail Agents of the United States and the American Bail Coalition forming an umbrella group for bail agents and surety companies and the National Association of Fugitive Recovery Agents representing the bounty hunting industry. Organizations that represent the legal profession, including the American Bar Association and the National District Attorneys Association, oppose the practice of bond dealing, claiming that it discriminates against poor and middle-class defendants while doing nothing for public safety. History The first modern bail bonds business in the United States was established by Peter P. McDonough in San Francisco in 1898. However, clay tablets from ca. 2750 BC describe surety bail bond agreements made in the Akkadian city of Eshnunna, located in modern-day Iraq. Modern practice According to 1996 figures for the U.S., one quarter of all released felony defendants fail to appear at trial, but those released via bail bond appear more frequently than other defendants. Laws governing the practice of bail bonds vary by state, although the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, sponsored by the Uniform Law Commission, has been widely adopted. In the state of California, bail bond agreements must be verified and certified by the California Department of Insurance. The practice of commercial bail bonds is unlawful in the states of Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Applicable federal laws include the Excessive Bail Clause of the Eighth Amendment and the Bail Reform Act of 1984, incorporated into the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984. Training and requirements "There are 18 states where theoretically anyone can become a bail recovery agent..." In most jurisdictions, bond agents must be licensed to carry on business within the state. Some insurance companies may offer insurance coverage that includes local bail bonds for traffic related arrests. Pricing Bond agents generally charge a fee of ten percent for a state charge and fifteen percent for a federal bail bond, with a minimum of one hundred dollars in such states as Florida, required in order to post a bond for the