Bail bonds
When a person is put behind bars and taken into custody for a major criminal offense, they should wait in jail until a bail hearing. It is at this bail hearing that the judge sets the bail amount. If that individual can't raise the amount of money, they have to remain in prison till their court date. However that does not always need to hold true; they can also seek out the help of a bail bondsman.
Sadly, the majority of people end up staying in jail till their court date due to the fact that most do not have a large amount of money sitting around in the bank.
Our website will help you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to reliable and affordable bail bond representatives in Sunnyvale.
Just what is a bail bond?
A bail bond is a surety bond that is offered by a bonding company to help with the release of a jailed person so they can await their court date outside of prison.
There are 2 types of bail bond, specifically a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
A criminal bail bond comes into play in criminal cases. It guarantees that the offender appears during the trial and at the same time ensures that the defendant will pay the fines and penalties imposed by the court.
Civil bail bonds are for civil cases. These provide surety on the debts, interests, and expenses imposed on the offender.
Should I hire a bail bondsman?
If you are able to put up bail by yourself, you certainly don't need to work with a bondsman. For one, they ask a fee for their assistance, as well as the collateral you must provide for what is undoubtedly categorized as a loan.
In almost all states, the bonding company will charge around 10-20% of the total amount of the bond. You can't get this back even if you are cleared of the offense. However, you don't have to stress over filing the necessary documents or need to deal with court personnel because the agent will take care of all that for you. Besides that, you will have a better prospect of getting your bail petition accepted by virtue of the credibility and reputation of the bonding company alone. Third, as a result of their familiarity with the procedure, you can possibly be released from prison in a matter of hours .
Lastly, the bonding company knows the benefit of a good first impression on the judge and jury. If you are transferred to the local or federal jail, you are going to be hauled to the courtroom in the official inmate's uniform. On the other hand, when you made bail, you can dress smartly and ensure a good first impression on the court.
How the bail bonds process works
To start the bail bonds procedure, you first have to find a bonding comany. You can do that in person, over the phone and even via the internet. Given the strict adherence to professionalism, a bail bondsman will gladly walk you through the bail procedure and straighten out any reservations that you might have.
Time is of the essence throughout this procedure. As soon as the bail agent answered all of your concerns to your complete satisfaction, the bail agent will handle all of the formalities necessary to get you or your loved one released from prison.
To make sure all goes smoothly, a bail bondsman needs to have the offender's name, birthdate, and the location or area of the arrest. With this info, the bondsman will have the ability to get extra details from the jail system required to secure the release. After dealing with all the procedures, the bondsman will go over to the jail to get the offender out.
Using a bondsman to bail out yourself or someone you know is that simple, you can be out of jail and reunited with your loved ones in a few hours.
Information your bondsman needs to know
When you contact a bail bondsman, you will have to provide these details:
- Your full name if you are the offender
- The name and location of the jail where the accused is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the offender
- Any extra relevant info
What is accepted as collateral?
In most cases, the bonding company requires collateral with the transaction. This is reasonable considering the risks involved. An inmate is a possible flight risk, and are plenty of examples where a bonds company had to employ a bounty hunter to recover the fleeing defendant.
But what is acceptable as collateral? In a nut-shell, if a bail bondsman considers something valuable, you are able to use it as collateral for the bail bond. Listed below are a number of examples:
- Realty
- Cars
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronic devices
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you can't afford the bail bond right now, bail bonds companies usually have payment options that you can use. Simply speak with the bondsman to figure out what option is best suited when it comes to your circumstances.
You can use our site to find a bondsman that will be perfect for you. Many of them operate 24/7, ready to assist you or your loved one to spend the least amount of time in prison as possible.
