The predominant industry around the Courthouse on South Broad is commercial bail bonding. The yellow pages list 39 different companies offering bonds. The bail bondsmen post bonds for the accused released from jail on bail while they await their trials. These Commercial Surety Bonds cost the accused 12% of their face value. The bondsmen don't like losing their money if the accused don't appear in court so they employ bounty hunters to make sure the accused appear.

A few judges in Jefferson parish got in trouble with this process. One is in jail. The other is off the bench.