Bail Bond Services: Helping People Awaiting Trial Dates
The last thing anyone wants is to have a criminal record. Having one can make life a bit more difficult and people seem to treat you differently. Finding a job can be very challenging as well when someone has a criminal history in a background. However, people get arrested -- whether guilty or innocent. When that happens obtaining bail is often a necessity.
The purpose of being bailed out of jail is to give a defendant ample opportunity to discuss their case with a lawyer, and to continue on with their normal, daily life.
If the bail amount is set at an affordable amount, the defendant may want to post the full bail amount with the court so that the funds can be returned at the conclusion of the case.
However, often bail is in the tens of thousands of dollars and the defendant or the defendant's family will want to find a licensed bail bondsman who works with the jail in which they are being held.
When bail is needed, it's important to find a bondsman that offers bail bonds 24-hours a day, since it could be hours after the arrest before bail has been set. The bail bonds process can be complex and overwhelming to anyone that doesn't deal with it on a daily basis. This is where the help of an expert bondsman can come in handy.
Once someone is arrested, they will be taken to either the police station or jail. Here, they will go through the booking process for the charges. This process will include fingerprinting, photographs, and a background check and warrant search. If the charge is "bailable", the amount of bail will be set and a court date will be given.
Once the bail amount is set, the defendant will then be able to post bail. If the amount is low enough, the defendant, or a friend or family member, can pay the amount to the jail or court directly, in cash. More often than not, bail is set higher than can be readily afforded. If the bail isn't paid, the defendant will wait in jail for the duration of the court case. Most people have lives that require them to be out of jail and this is when a bondsman is needed.
To get started with the process of hiring a bail bondsman, follow these steps:
Even after going through the bail process, the defendant still needs to go to court and address the charges.
While being found guilty is always a possibility, it is often advisable to speaking to an attorney. This is easier to do when the defendant isn't sitting in jail. Using a reliable bail bondsman can help give the defendant the time they need to help the case go in their favor.
The purpose of being bailed out of jail is to give a defendant ample opportunity to discuss their case with a lawyer, and to continue on with their normal, daily life.
If the bail amount is set at an affordable amount, the defendant may want to post the full bail amount with the court so that the funds can be returned at the conclusion of the case.
However, often bail is in the tens of thousands of dollars and the defendant or the defendant's family will want to find a licensed bail bondsman who works with the jail in which they are being held.
When bail is needed, it's important to find a bondsman that offers bail bonds 24-hours a day, since it could be hours after the arrest before bail has been set. The bail bonds process can be complex and overwhelming to anyone that doesn't deal with it on a daily basis. This is where the help of an expert bondsman can come in handy.
Once someone is arrested, they will be taken to either the police station or jail. Here, they will go through the booking process for the charges. This process will include fingerprinting, photographs, and a background check and warrant search. If the charge is "bailable", the amount of bail will be set and a court date will be given.
Once the bail amount is set, the defendant will then be able to post bail. If the amount is low enough, the defendant, or a friend or family member, can pay the amount to the jail or court directly, in cash. More often than not, bail is set higher than can be readily afforded. If the bail isn't paid, the defendant will wait in jail for the duration of the court case. Most people have lives that require them to be out of jail and this is when a bondsman is needed.
To get started with the process of hiring a bail bondsman, follow these steps:
- The defendant, a friend, or loved one will contact the bail bondsman. Explain the situation, list of charges and bail amount.
- The bail agent will assess the situation and decide if the risk is viable.
- When the bondsman is satisfied with the situation, required documents are signed, the bail bond fee (called a "premium") will have to be paid. This amount varies from state to state, but in most cases it is equal to 10% of the total bail amount. For example, if bail is set at $15,000, a bail bond premium would be $1,500.
- It's important to know that the bail bond premium will not be returned, regardless of the outcome of the case.
Even after going through the bail process, the defendant still needs to go to court and address the charges.
While being found guilty is always a possibility, it is often advisable to speaking to an attorney. This is easier to do when the defendant isn't sitting in jail. Using a reliable bail bondsman can help give the defendant the time they need to help the case go in their favor.
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