Bail bonds
One of the most frightening situations you can end up in is inside a jail cell after you have been apprehended and charged with an alleged criminal offense. Things can go south even further when you or your family have no cash available to post your bail bond, which will allow you get released from jail until your court hearing. In such a challenging situation, you first need to calm yourself, think straight, and go for the most effective solution: Get in touch with a bail bondsman who can really help a lot in getting you released from jail.
You are permitted at least one phone call after your arrest. Use that to a family member and request him or her to reach out to a bail bond agent. Your family member could visit our site to find a reputable bail bondsman in Grundy County who can then post the bail on your behalf to get you your freedom.
Why does a judge impose a bail bond ?
The judicial system allows the services of a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help an accused gain temporary liberty while waiting for their trial.
The law allows two types of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a judge does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged criminal offense. You are still innocent until proven guilty. However, the court requires an assurance that you will show up in court to face your accuser; therefore, the need to post bail. If you show up at all of your scheduled criminal proceedings as promised, 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 pay for the penalties and fines that the judge may enforce on you. When you miss the court hearings, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
The same reasoning applies with the civil bail bonds. The bail enforced on civil cases works as an assurance or a surety that the offender will be capable to pay the fines and penalties that the judge may require from the accused after the trial.
Should I hire a bondsman?
If you are able to pay bail by yourself, you don't need to have to employ the services of a bonding company. For one, they ask a small fee for their assistance, as well as the collateral you must provide for what is undoubtedly categorized as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bonding company will collect about 10-20% of the overall amount of the bond. You can't get this money refunded even if you are acquitted of the charge. On the upside, you don't have to worry about submitting the paperwork or have to deal with court staff because the bondsman will take care of everything for you. Besides that, you will have a better chance of having your bail application accepted because of the reputation of the bonding company alone. Third, as a result of their familiarity with the procedure, you can be out of jail in a matter of hours instead of days.
And finally, the bail bonds company understands the advantage of a good first impression while appearing in court. If you are committed to the regional or federal prison, you will be transported to the courthouse in the official prisoner's jumpsuit. On the other hand, if you made bail, you can dress smartly and ensure a good impression on the court.
How does the bail bonds process work?
To start the bail bonds procedure, you first have to search for a bonding comany. You can do that in person, over the phone and even online. Given the strict adherence to professionalism, a bail bondsman will gladly walk you through the bail bond procedure and straighten out any reservations that you may have.
Time is of the essence throughout this procedure. As soon as the bail agent addressed all of your concerns to your satisfaction, the bail agent will handle all of the formalities vital to get you or your loved one released from jail.
To make sure all goes smoothly, a bondsman needs to know the defendant's name, birthdate, and the location or area of the arrest. With this information, the agent will have the ability to gather extra info from the jail system required to secure the release. After handling all the procedures, the bail bondsman will visit the jail to get the offender released.
Utilizing a bail bondsman to bail out yourself or someone you know is that easy, you can be out of jail and reunited with your loved ones in a few hours.
What your bondsman needs to know about you
When you or a friend get in contact with a bonding company, the latter will ask for the following details:
- The full name of the defendant
- The name and location of the jailhouse where the accused is detained
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the suspect
- Any other relevant information
Will the bondsman require collateral for their service?
If a bail bondsman will want collateral for will vary between cases, but it is common in the business. Regarding the sort of collateral that is acceptable, the list is simply too long to mention everything. But if a bondsman believes that an item has value, it can be acceptable as collateral. Below are just a few examples:
- Real estate or land
- Vehicles, boats, yachts
- Jewelry or gemstones
- Shares, stocks or equities
- Bank accounts
- TV, appliances or other devices
- Antiques or art collections
- Farm equipment
And when available, you could also make use of payment plans offered by a bondsman.
If you or your loved ones run the risk of remaining in jail for quite some time simply because you can't come up with the bail amount, a bondsman is the only alternative that is left. On our site you can find a bonding company in Grundy County. Many of them available day and night.
