AM Best: Bail Bond Market Grows Despite Legislative Headwinds (AM BestTV)

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In this episode of ^AMBestTV, David Blades, associate director, and Max Gilberg, associate analyst, both of AM Best, said the bail bond market grew 10.4% in the past five years, despite legislative changes intended to dampen its relevancy. Click on http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=bailbonds520 to view the entire program.

Blades highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted bail bond insurers.

“Overcrowding in the U.S. prison system has long been a problem, and this overcrowding has made prisons ripe for an epidemic,” said Blades. “Even if a person was in prison for a short period of time, such as overnight, that person could be exposed to the virus and upon release, spread it to the outside population. Therefore, what COVID-19 has done is accelerate the push for criminal and bail bond reforms. How these reforms will impact the bail bond insurance industry in the future remains to be seen.”

The prevailing view is that various legislation being pushed could mean the end of cash bail or bail bond insurance. Gilberg discussed this dynamic.

“There have been a number of legislative changes in numerous states over the last few years; however, the growth in direct written premium over the last five years shows that the bail bond environment is quite healthy, despite some of the substantial changes in the law.”

To access the related market segment report, titled, “Bail Bond Market Faces Legislative Headwinds,” please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=296978.

Recent ^AMBestTV coverage includes:

• Growing COVID-19-Driven Pressures on Japan Life Insurance Market Prompted Outlook Revision to Negative: Jason Shum, associate director, analytics, AM Best, said pressures on the Japan life insurance market, including mortality table updates, low interest rates and the COVID-19 pandemic, were factors in an outlook revision on the market to negative: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ambjapan520.
• Insurers Reduce Hedge-Fund Investments for Fourth-Straight Year: Jason Hopper, associate director, AM Best, said U.S. insurers for a fourth straight year reduced their hedge-fund investments, to $12 billion in 2019 from $25 billion in 2015: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ambhedgefunds520.
• Artemis Owner: ILS Industry Rebounding From Cat Losses: The insurance-linked securities industry is “doubling down” to make the market more resilient after a spate of natural catastrophe losses, said Steve Evans, owner and editor of Artemis: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=evans220.
• IBHS’ Wright: Slow Storms, Fast Wildfires Put Focus on Resistant Home Construction: Roy Wright, president and chief executive officer, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, said less-severe but sustained storms demonstrate that homes experience fatigue, enabling larger losses: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=wright120.

^AM BestTV covers exclusive AM Best and insurance industry information and reports, targeted topics and key developments in the insurance, reinsurance and related sectors daily. Sign up for alerts of episodes at www.ambest.com/multimedia/ambtvsignup.html. View ^AM BestTV episodes at www.ambest.tv.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2020 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.