A bail bond is a criminal defendant’s commitment to forfeit a certain amount of money determined by a court of law or appear in person for trial. A bondsman co-signs the bail bond and, in exchange for a fee, takes the burden of securing the payment. Here is everything you need to know about bail bonds.
How a Bail Bonds Work
After an arrest and completing the booking process, a criminal defendant can post bail as per a bail schedule. This can happen without seeing a judge. If paying the scheduled bail is not an option, the defendant appears before a judge for a special bail hearing or arraignment within a few days. For petty crimes such as reckless driving and shoplifting, the police may present bail schedules. The defendant walks out after paying the scheduled amount without waiting for the judge to determine bail.
At an arraignment or bail hearing, a judge considers the seriousness of the crime. They check your community ties, your criminal history, and your capability to pay bail. After taking into account these terms the bail is set. You must then return for hearing dates and trial. You must abide by the bail terms. The judge can grant or deny bail for a capital offense depending on the severity of the crime.
The Role of a Bond Company
Bail bonds service is like a loan facility, where the bond company settles your bail in return for a fee. The fee is a nonrefundable premium regardless of whether your case is dismissed. Similar to a loan company, you must provide collateral such as a house or car. If you fail to appear for mentions or a trial date, your bail amount becomes a court’s property. The bond company loses the bail amount. The bond company pays the court additional costs for your no-show. It pursues your collateral, and recovers the amount paid for your bail.
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The bondsman may hire a bail enforcement agent to return you to court if you fail to appear for your hearings. Also known as a bounty hunter, the private agent works with the bail bondsman to capture criminals or fugitives for a fee. They track down and arrest individuals who have violated their terms of bail, so that the accused faces legal obligations. If you attend your hearing without fail, the court returns the bail amount to the bond company minus charges. If you’re convicted of the offense and jailed, the bond company recovers the bail. It does not refund the premium. Your collateral is tied to the bond terms regardless of the duration of the case, which can sometimes take months or years.
Hire Bond Company Service Today
Using a bail bond service allows a defendant to secure their release from custody while awaiting trial without settling the full bail amount upfront. Failure to comply with bail terms leads to loss of bail, collateral, capture, and imprisonment. Hire bond company service today and get your bail paid for a nonrefundable premium fee.
