The Ins and Outs of Bail Bond

A bail bond is an amount of money or collateral that is placed in return for a defendants release before their court date. Basically, a bail bond is a get out of jail for not so free card. Most defendants are unable to post their own bail due to finances, this is where a bail bond agent comes in. Usually if approved, they will post bail for a defendant after collecting a 10 to 15% fee based on the amount of bail.

Now you may be wondering what happens if the defendant does not show up in court. Bail agents usually have a special type of insurance. If the defendant does not show up in court, this insurance will assure that the bail bond agency does not lose out on that huge chunk of cash they put down. However, that does not mean that they will not try to find the defendant first. Avoiding your court date is illegal, even if you have posted bail.

If you have someone you want to bail out of jail, you may want to look into a local bail bondsman. Compare rates between bail bondsman, and choose the one with the best deal. However, if the person you are attempting to bail out committed a violent crime, you may be out of luck. This is due to the Bail Reform Act of 1984. This act changed bail laws so that defendants can be held mandatorily until trial if they are considered dangerous to the public.

Having someone you love in jail is extremely stressful. Especially, if they have not completed the court process yet. Not knowing what is to come is a burden for anyone. However, a bail bondsman may be able to reunite you with your loved one. This is helpful for many reasons. Not only will it buy you time with your loved one, but it will also assist them in preparing for court more easily.

If someone you know is in jail awaiting trial, you may want to share this information with their family. Especially if that person is looking at a long sentence, the family may appreciate having some time with them in the mean time. Bail bondsman are at they aid of any family facing a difficult time due to legal issues. Do research on bail bonds in your area today, you may just be able get your loved one out from behind bars. For more about this, go here.