Bail bonds may not be something you ever need but should you find yourself in a jam, you are going to have to know something about how they work and how they benefit you. It could mean the difference between sitting in jail waiting on a court date and being able to be with your family or friends. You probably do not set out with the intention of being arrested and needing the services of a bail bond agent but in this article we will cover the basics of the bail bonds world and hopefully educate you on the basics that you will need to know in case you ever find yourself in a stick situation.
What are bail bonds?
Bail bonds are the fee it takes to get out of jail. The bail bond can be paid by the defendant in full or it can be paid by a special agency that works to get people back on their feet after being arrested. The modern bail bond agency was first started back in the 1800's by Tom and Peter P. McDonough. They believed that a person was innocent until proven guilty and should not have to sit in jail waiting to prove their innocence. They should be free to live their lives until the court date.
How do I get out of jail?
The process begins with you being arrested. No, that is not what most people plan on any given day. The judge will then set a bond amount that has to be paid in order for you to get out of jail. The bond could be paid in full by you or your family. If you do not have the money you will need to call a bail bond agency. The bail bonds are then paid by the agency and you pay a small fee that is a percentage of the bond. You are then free to go until your court date.
What is the fee charged by a bail bond agency?
Most agencies charge a ten percent fee of the total bond. You can put up collateral for the rest of the bond amount and you pay the ten percent in full. This fee is non-refundable and unless you go to court you can lose whatever it was that you put up in lieu of the rest of the bond.
What is a cash only bond?
A cash bond occurs when the judge will not allow you to be bailed out by a bond agency. This usually occurs if the judge considers you a flight risk but will still allow you out of jail. There are some smaller bonds that must be paid such as insufficient funds on a checking account. Speeding tickets may be considered a cash bond if you have failed to pay the ticket and have had a warrant issued.
How do I find a good bail bondsman?
Let us assume that you have never used a bail bondsman before because you have never dealt with bail bonds. A good bail bondsman is found through word of mouth advertising. You want someone who is courteous and respectful of your situation. They should be unbiased and be licensed to take care of bail bonds. You definitely do not want someone fraudulent that will take your money and do nothing to help you out!
What happens if I skip my court date?
Bad, bad things happen if you skip your court date. The very first is a bench warrant being created. This means that you get arrested again. It could mean that the judge then deems you a flight risk and you can no longer be bailed out of jail. The second is that your bail bondsman may hire a bounty hunter to find you and escort you back to jail. It is not a pretty sight and they will contact your references. Your family members could be harassed in the pursuit of the bounty hunter trying to find you. The best advice is to show up for your court date.
What is a bounty hunter?
A bounty hunter is someone that hunts down people that have skipped out on their bonds. Skipping out on a bond means that the person did not show up for their court date and have gone on the run to avoid being caught and returned to jail. A bounty hunter is usually required to be licensed in the state, or states, he or she practices in and they must know the laws under which they are required to operate.
Is bounty hunting really like those reality television shows?
Any real bounty hunter will tell you that their job is not nearly as exciting as the reality television shows pain it out to be. Many times they go to find the defendant and he or she is sitting at their house with some excuse as to why they did not show up at court. There are times of excitement when the person goes on the run but those are few and far between. There is usually no "jet setting" lifestyle where they fly to some exotic place to retrieve the defendant.
If I have to post a bond myself, will I get the money back?
Once you have shown up for court on the date specified you will get your bond money back. Do not count on it being there immediately for you to pick up. The court system has to discharge the bond money. You may not get this until your case is settled because there is still the possibility that you could skip out on your bond.
What happens after my court date to my bond?
Well what happens to your bond after your court date depends largely on what type of bond was posted. If it was through an agency they will get their money back. That does not mean you get your money back. That ten percent you paid for them to bail you out of jail do not get refunded. If you posted the bond yourself you will get the money back eventually.
What if I can't come up with something to secure my bond or can't come up with the fee charged by the bail bond agency?
Some bail bond agents will work with you on a payment plan. Others may require that you come up with the collateral to secure the bond and if you cannot come up with the collateral and fee they may not bond you out of jail. A large part depends on if you are a flight risk, if you are a repeat customer and how high your bond.
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Today's Tip On Bail Bonds
Is bounty hunting really like those reality television shows?
Any real bounty hunter will tell you that their job is not nearly as exciting as the reality television shows pain it out to be. Many times they go to find the defendant and he or she is sitting at their house with some excuse as to why they did not show up at court. There are times of excitement when the person goes on the run but those are few and far between. There is usually no "jet setting" lifestyle where they fly to some exotic place to retrieve the defendant.
