Bail bonds
One of the most frightening situations you can end up in is inside a jail cell after being apprehended and accused of an supposed crime. Things could go south even further if you or your family have no immediate cash on hand to post your bail bond, which will allow you temporary freedom. During such a difficult moment, you first have to relax yourself, think straight, and choose the most effective solution: Contact a bail bondsman who can help a lot in getting you released from prison.
You are allowed at least one phone call following your arrest. Use that to a family member and request that person to reach out to a bail bond agent. Your family member can use our site to search for a reputable bail bondsman in Bloomington who can then post the required bail in your place to secure your temporary freedom.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after an arrest
The legal system permits a bondsman to put up a bail bond, also known as surety bond, to help persons arrested and accused of a criminal offense get temporarily released from jail while awaiting their trial.
The law allows two sorts of bail -- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a judge does not require a criminal bail bond to punish you for your supposed crime. You are still innocent up until proven guilty. Nevertheless, the court requires a guarantee that you will show up at trial to face your accuser; therefore, the requirement to post bail. If you show up at all your scheduled criminal proceedings as required, and you are eventually found not guilty, the bail amount will be given back to you. In case you are found guilty, the bail will be used to cover the fines and penalties that the court may enforce on you. When you miss the court hearings, the bail will be lost and you will be subject to arrest.
However, the civil bail bonds imposed on civil cases work as a guarantee or a surety with the court where the debts, claims, and costs imposed on the accused can be paid from.
Do I need to hire a bail bondsman?
When you can afford to pay bail by yourself, you don't need to work with a bail bondsman. For one, they require a charge for their assistance, not to mention the collateral you must provide for what is definitely classified as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bondsman will charge a rate of around 10-20% of the total amount of the bail bond. You will not get this back even if you are acquitted of the crime. On the upside, you do not have to worry about filing the necessary documents or need to deal with court staff since the bonding company will handle everything for you. Secondly, you will have a better chance of getting your bail petition approved by virtue of the credibility and reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Lastly, as a result of their experience with the process, you can possibly be out of prison in a couple of hours.
Lastly, the bonding company recognizes the benefit of a good impression on the judge and jury. When you are transferred to the regional or federal prison, you will be hauled to court in the official inmate's jumpsuit. In contrast, if you made bail, you can dress smartly and ensure a good first impression on the judge and jury.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding the right bail agent is important. Unfortunately, there are deceitful agents around who take advantage of unwary families who are already desperate for help.
Make sure you are ready when you contact a bonding company. Ask all questions you might have, and only once all your questions are answered should you continue with the next steps of hiring their services. The bondsman can then proceed with posting the bail and filing the required paperwork to get you or a friend released from jail.
Going to meet with a bondsman?
You should have have the following information handy when speaking with the bondsman:
- The accused's full name
- The jail, city, and county where the defendant is committed
- The offender's booking number
- The charges the defendant is facing
- The amount of the bail
Will the bondsman need collateral ?
Whether or not a bonding company will want collateral for will vary between cases, but it is a common practice in the business. Regarding the kind of collateral that is accepted, the list is just too long to mention everything. Suffice to say that if a bail bondsman thinks that something has value, it can be used as collateral. Listed below are just some examples:
- House or property
- Cars, boats, yachts
- Jewelry or gems
- Shares, stocks or equities
- Bank accounts
- TV, appliances or other electronics
- Antiques or art
- Farm equipment
And when available, you could also take advantage of payment options offered by a bondsman.
If you or your loved ones are in danger of staying in prison for quite some time simply because you can't raise the bail money, a bondsman is the only alternative that is left. On our site you can find a bonding company in Bloomington. Most of them are open for business 24x7.
