Bail bonds
When an individual is incarcerated and charged for a severe criminal offense, they must wait in jail till a bail hearing. It is at this bail hearing that the judge determines the bail amount. If that person can't raise the amount, they have to stay in prison until their court date. However that does not always have to be the case; they can also look for the help of a bail bondsman.
Unfortunately, the majority of people wind up staying in jail until their court appearance since most do not have a large sum of money available in the bank.
Our website will help you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to reputable and budget friendly bail bond representatives in Pasadena.
Why does a judge impose bail ?
The legal system permits the services of a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also known as surety bond, to help an offender get temporary liberty while waiting for their trial.
The judicial system allows two kinds of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a judge does not require a criminal bail bond to punish you for your supposed criminal offense. You are still innocent till proven guilty. However, the judge needs a guarantee that you will show up at trial to face your accuser; therefore, the need to post bail. If you show up at all your arranged criminal procedures as promised, and you are eventually acquitted, the bail amount will be returned to you. In case you are found guilty, the bail will be used to take care of the penalties and fines that the judge may enforce on you. If you skip the court appearances, your bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
The same justification applies to civil bail bonds. The bail enforced on civil cases works as a guarantee or a surety that the suspect will have the ability to pay the penalties and fines that the judge may enforce on the offender after the trial.
Do I need to hire a bondsman?
If you are able to put up bail on your own, you certainly don't have to work with a bonding company. 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 almost all states, the bail bondsman will charge a fee of about 10-20% of the overall amount of the bail. You can't get this money back even if you are cleared of the charge. However, you don't need to worry about submitting the paperwork or have to deal with court staff because the bonding company will handle everything . Second, you will have a better chance of having your bail application approved because of the credibility and reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Third, due to their experience with the procedure, you can possibly be released from jail in a couple of hours.
And finally, the bail bonds company knows the advantage of a good first impression while appearing in court. If you are committed to the regional or federal jail, you are going to be transported to the courthouse in the official prisoner's uniform. On the other hand, when you are out on a bail bond, you are able to dress well and make a good first impression on the judge and jury.
How the bail bonds process works
Keep in mind: In the event that you are arrested and booked for a supposed criminal offense, instantly request for an attorney to represent you and protect your rights. Also, call a trusted person to connect you with a bail bondsman to begin the bail procedure. When this is done, the bonding company will need answers to general questions like the suspect's name, birthdate, and the area or city of the arrest. The bondsman will then offer to pay the bail bond in your place in return for a service fee. As soon as the agreement is made, the bail bondsman will move forward with the necessary actions to secure your release from jail. Within hours, after the action taken by your bail bondsman, you can walk out of jail, a free man once more.
What information does a bail bondsman need?
When you get in touch with a bondsman, they will want to know:
- The full name and age of the offender
- The prison where the defendant is held
- The booking reference number and the charge
What is accepted as collateral?
In most cases, the bail bondsman will ask for collateral with the deal. This is reasonable taking into consideration the risks that are involved. A prisoner is a flight risk, and are many occasions where a bonding company needed to hire a bounty hunter to recover the fleeing offender.
But what is accepted as collateral? Basically, if a bonding company considers an asset valuable, you can use it as collateral for the bail bond. Listed below are a couple of examples:
- Realty
- Cars
- Stocks
- Jewelry
- Electronic devices
- Bank accounts
- Visa or mastercard
If you find that the bond is too high, bail bonds companies often offer payment plans that you can make use of. Simply speak with the bail bondsman to determine what option is best suited for your situation.
Use this site to look for a bonding company that will be perfect for you. Many of them are open 24/7, ready to assist you or a friend to spend the least amount of time in prison as possible.
