Bail bond agents and bail insurers cannot keep the premium when a criminal defendant is denied bond and not released, the state Department of Financial Services reminded the insurance companies Tuesday.

In a letter to insurers, the Department of Financial Services reminded bail agents and insurers that they must “promptly return to indemnitors all premiums and compensation paid for bail bonds for defendants who are not released from custody after a court does not accept the bail bond as the result of a bail sufficiency hearing.”