Bail bonds
Essentially, a bail bond is a kind of assurance that you will attend your court hearing at the date specified. In return, you will be permitted to remain free even if you are still undergoing trial for a civil or criminal charge. Alternatively, you will remain jail while awaiting the court to decide on either acquittal or conviction. A bondsman can put up bail for you and get you released from jail.
Depending upon the charge, the amount of bail can be expensive. Not many suspects have the ability to post the bail. Certainly there's a reason why the penal system is overburdened. However, there's a lawful manner in which to gain your temporary release from jail even while your lawsuit is ongoing. Using our site you can look for a trusted bondsman in Fresno County.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The judicial system permits a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help people arrested and accused of a crime gain temporarily released from prison while waiting for their court appearance.
The legal system allows two types of bail bond-- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a court does not require a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged criminal offense. You are still innocent till proven guilty. However, the judge needs to have a guarantee that you will show up at trial to face your accuser; thus, the requirement to post bail. If you participate in all your scheduled criminal procedures as required, and you are in the end acquitted, the bail will be given back to you. In case you are condemned, the bail money will be used to take care of the fines and penalties that the court might enforce on you. If you skip the court hearings, your bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
On the other hand, the civil bail bonds enforced on civil cases serve as a guarantee or a surety with the court where the debts, claims, and costs enforced on the accused can be paid from.
Do I need to hire a bondsman?
If you are able to put up bail by yourself, you don't need to have to work with a bail bondsman. For one, they ask a fee for their service, not to mention the collateral you need to provide for what is certainly classified as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bondsman will charge around 10-20% of the total amount of the bail. You can't get this money back even when you are cleared of the crime. On the upside, you don't need to bother with submitting the paperwork or need to deal with court personnel since the bonding company will handle all that for you. Besides that, you will have a better prospect of having your bail petition approved by virtue of the credibility and reputation of the bonding company alone. Third, due to their familiarity with the procedure, you can be released from jail in a couple of hours.
Finally, the bonding company knows the advantage of a good first impression on the judge and jury. If you are committed to the regional or federal jail, you will be transported to the courthouse in the official inmate's uniform. On the other hand, if you made bail, you are able to dress smartly and make a good impression on the court.
Here's how the bail bonds process works
When you get arrested and charged with an alleged criminal offense, the very first thing that you must do is to contact a lawyer and somebody, possibly even the lawyer himself, who can connect you to a bondsman to start the bail bonds process. You or your representative can work with the bail bondsman who will ask you standard questions such as the defendant's name, date of birth, and the place or city where the arrest was made. The bondsman will then offer you an arrangement for posting your bail . Upon your approval of the agreement, the bail bondsman will take care of all the formalities to to get you released from jail. With the help of the bail bondsman, you can get out of jail and be in the c ompany of your loved ones once again.
What information do I need when contacting a bonding company?
When contacting a bail bondsman, make sure that you know:
- The full name of the accused
- The name of the prison the accused is incarcerated in
- The booking number
- The charges
- Any other relevant information you can think of
What does a bail bondsman accept as collateral?
Not everybody will have the cash lying around to pay a bonding company, however that does not mean you can not utilize one to get yourself or somebody else out of jail. If you do not have sufficient cash, you can also put up some of your possessions as collateral. Some items ordinarily accepted as collateral include:
- Realty
- Automobiles
- Visa or mastercard
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
Moreover, most bail agents will also offer you with the possibility for a payment plan that is within your budget and does not add more stress during these trying times.
The bail bonds process can be complicated and every bit as wearisome, however the good news is that the majority of bail bondsmen are ready to assist you 24×7. Using our site you can look for a trusted bondsman in Fresno County. They will be more than happy to help you get you or your loved one from prison!
