Bail bonds
When you have been apprehended for a serious crime, you must stay in prison while waiting for the bail hearing. During the bail hearing, the judge will decide the amount of bail that will get you released. If you or your family has the money available, then there's no problem. However, if you don't have any available funds, you will be forced to stay behind bars while awaiting your trial -- a scary prospect to contemplate. Luckily, there is a solution: You or your family can look for help from a bail bondsman who can put up your bail to the court, get you released from prison.
But how can you contact a bail bondsman ? That's where our website can assist you: We can help you search for a trustworthy and dependable bail bond agent in Duval County who can post the required bail to allow you to get released from prison.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The legal system allows a commercial bonding company to put up a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help people arrested and charged with a crime gain temporarily released from prison while awaiting their court hearing.
The judicial system allows two sorts of bail -- 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 presumed innocent until proven guilty. Nonetheless, the judge requires an assurance that you will appear at trial to face your accuser; hence, 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 returned to you. If you are condemned, the bail amount will be used to take care of the penalties and fines that the judge might impose on you. If you skip the court appearances, your bail will be lost and you will be subject to arrest.
On the other hand, the civil bail bonds enforced on civil cases function as an assurance or a surety with the court where the debts, interests, and charges imposed on the accused can be taken from.
Should I hire a bondsman?
When you can afford to pay bail on your own, you don't need to have to hire a bonding company. For one, they ask a small charge for their assistance, not to mention the collateral you need to provide for what is definitely categorized as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bondsman will charge a fee of about 10-20% of the total amount of the bail. You will not get this money back even if you are cleared of the offense. On the upside, you don't need to stress over filing the necessary documents or dealing with court staff because the bail bondsman will take care of all that for you. Besides that, you will have a better prospect of having your bail request accepted because of the reputation of the bondsman alone. Thirdly, due to their experience with the process, you can possibly be out of prison in a couple of hours.
Finally, the bonding company recognizes the benefit of a good impression on the judge and jury. If you are committed to the local or federal jail, you are going to be transported to the courthouse in the official inmate's uniform. In contrast, if you are out on bail, you are able to dress smartly and ensure a good impression on the judge and jury.
How does the bail bonds process work?
To begin the bail bonds process, you first need to get a bail bondsman. You can do that in person, over the phone and even via the internet. Given the strict adherence to professionalism, a bail bondsman will happily walk you through the bail procedure and settle any reservations that you may have.
Time is of the essence during this procedure. As soon as the bail bondsman answered all of your concerns to your complete satisfaction, the bail bondsman will deal with all of the formalities required to get you or your loved one released from jail.
To ensure all goes well, a bondsman needs to know the defendant's name, birthdate, and the location or city of the arrest. With this info, the bail bondsman will be able to get additional info from the jail system required to secure the release. After dealing with all the formalities, the bail bondsman will visit the jail to get the offender out.
Using a bondsman to bail out yourself or someone you love is that straightforward, you can be out of prison and reunited with your loved ones in a matter of hours.
Information your bail bondsman needs to know
When you contact a bondsman, you will have to provide these details:
- Your name if you are the suspect
- The name and location of the jailhouse where the defendant is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the defendant
- Any extra important info
What does a bail bondsman accept as collateral?
Not everyone will have the cash lying around to pay a bondsman, however that does not mean you can not utilize one to get yourself or somebody else out of prison. If you do not have enough money, you can also put up some of your possessions as collateral. Some items usually accepted as collateral include:
- Real estate
- Cars
- Credit cards
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
Furthermore, most bail bondsmen will also offer you with the possibility for a payment plan that is within your budget and does not add more pressure during these trying times.
The bail bonds process can be confusing and every bit as wearisome, however the good news is that the majority of bail bondsmen are ready to support you 24×7. With our site you can find a respectable bonding company in Duval County. They will be more than happy to help you secure you or your loved one from jail!
