subject: Bail Bonds And Bail Bondsmen: They Can Help Set You Free! [print this page] The term Bail bond, is quite self explanatoryThe term Bail bond, is quite self explanatory. It is surety bond or payment for a defendant's release from jail. The process of obtaining a bail bond for release isn't very long. Basically the detainee contacts a Bail agent, and the bail is set with in a few hours of arrest. It may take longer depending on the criminal booking process.
Bail
Bail is an agreement of paying criminal charges against the suspect's release from jail. Usually, a bail bonding agency, if hired for the process, will make arrangements of bail payment on the detainee's behalf. The bail bond agency is then responsible for ensuring that the released suspect arrives at court on the day of the trial. If, for instance the person does not arrive to court for trial or skips bail, the bail bond agency will hire a bounty hunter to track the suspect down and escort him/her to trial. Keep in mind, that the U.S is the only country where it is legal to hire bail bondsmen and bounty hunters.
Bail Bond process
When a suspect is arrested, he/she will be taken to a prison for a "booking". This means, that the person's information will be kept on file. Finger prints, pictures, a statement, back ground checks, and basic information will be taken. The detainee can not contact bail bondsman until the entire booking process is done and they are held in jail until the bail is posted.
The detainee or the detainee's family, and friends can contact a bail bond agency to arrange for a bail, provided once the bail amount is set. The agency will require some information, such as where the suspect is being held, when the arrest took place, the charges against the detainee, current addresses, and basic personal information about the detainee.
Then the company assesses the risk involved to arrange a bail bond. A bail bondman could visit the detainee, or family to sign bail bond documents, which includes a Bail Bond application, security agreement, and a receipt for transactions. The customer is charged 10% of the bail fee, authorized by state law, when a bail agency services are requested.
When the bail amount is arranged, the agent will post bail for the detainee at the jail, which will result in the detainee's release and a court order will be in pending at a later date.
Release Options
Bail Bond: Financial arrangements made on behalf of the defendant by bond agency. With security agreements of cash return, if the defendant fails to appear at court.
Own Recognizance (O.R): A defendant can be released on their own recognizance allowed by a judge. This is only possible for lesser crimes. The release is set after a written promise to appear back in court at a later date.
Cash Bail: To be released on cash bail the defendant will have to pay the full cash amount. After the case has been resolved in court, the full bail amount is refunded.
Property Bonds: The defendant may choose to post personal property. Equity of the property should equal to 150% of the bail amount set. If the defendant fails to comply by the requirements of the court, the court will foreclose the property.
Citation Release: It a requirement for the detainee, informing him or her to appear at court on a particular date. Citation releases are set for more minor offenses.
