Bail bonds
If you are arrested for a major criminal offense, you have to remain in jail while waiting for the bail hearing. At the bail hearing, the court will decide the bail amount that will get you released from prison. If you or a friend can raise the money, then everything is fine. However, if you don't have any available funds, you are forced to remain in jail while awaiting your court hearing -- a scary thing to contemplate. Thankfully, there is a way out of your predicament: You or your family can look for assistance from a bail bondsman who can pay your bail to the court, to allow you temporary freedom.
But how do you connect with a bonding company ? That's where this website can assist you: We will help you find a trusted and dependable bail bond agent in Springfield who can post the necessary bail to allow you to get out of jail.
Exactly what is a bail bond?
A bail bond is a surety bond that is provided by a bonding company to help secure the release of a detained person so they can await their court hearing outside of jail.
There are 2 types of bail bond, namely a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
A criminal bail bond comes into play in criminal cases. It guarantees that the accused shows up during the trial and at the same time ensures that the accused will pay the fines and penalties imposed by the court.
Civil bail bonds are for civil cases. These provide surety on the financial obligations, interests, and costs imposed on the accused.
Do I need to hire a bondsman?
When you can afford to put up bail by yourself, you certainly don't need to hire a bonding company. For one, they require a small fee for their service, not to mention the collateral you have to provide for what is certainly classified as a loan.
In almost all states, the bondsman will collect around 10-20% of the overall amount of the bond. You can't get this refunded even when you are acquitted of the offense. However, you do not need to worry about submitting the necessary documents or have to deal with court personnel since the agent will handle everything for you. Besides that, you will have a better chance of having your bail request accepted because of the reputation of the bondsman alone. Lastly, due to their experience with the procedure, you can be out of prison in a matter of hours instead of days.
And lastly, the bail bondsman recognizes the advantage of a good impression on the judge and jury. If you are transferred to the regional or federal prison, you will be transported to court in the official inmate's uniform. On the other hand, if you are out on bail, you can dress smartly and make a good first impression on the court.
How the bail bonds process works
To begin the bail bonds process, you first need to search for 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 happily walk you through the bail process and straighten out any doubts that you might have.
Time is of the essence throughout this process. When the bail bondsman addressed all of your questions to your complete satisfaction, the bail agent will handle all of the procedures necessary to get you or your loved one released from prison.
To make certain all goes smoothly, a bail bondsman needs to have the defendant's name, birthdate, and the location or city of the arrest. With this info, the agent will have the ability to get additional details from the jail system needed to secure the release. After handling all the formalities, the bail bondsman will go over to the jail to get the defendant out.
Using a bondsman to bail out yourself or someone you know is that straightforward, you can be out of jail and reunited with your loved ones in a matter of hours.
What your bail bondsman needs to have from you
When you or a family member link up with a bonding company, the latter will ask the following questions:
- The name of the defendant
- The name and location of the jailhouse where the defendant is detained
- 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 bail bondsman requires collateral with the transaction. This is understandable, taking into account the risks involved. A prisoner is a flight risk, and are countless examples where a bonds company needed to employ a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing defendant.
But what is acceptable as collateral? Essentially, if a bonding company considers an asset valuable, you can use it as a guarantee for the bail bond. Below are a some examples:
- Realty
- Cars
- Stocks
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Visa or mastercard
If you can't afford the bail bond right now, bail bonds companies often offer payment plans that you can use. Simply talk to the bondsman to figure out which option is the best one when it comes to your situation.
You can use this site to search for a bail bondsman that will be perfect for you. Many of them are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to help you or your loved one to spend the least amount of time in prison as possible.
