Bail bonds
One of the most frightening situations you can find yourself in is inside a prison after being apprehended and accused of an alleged crime. Things could go south even further when you or your loved ones have no immediate cash on hand to post your bail bond, which will allow you temporary freedom. In such a difficult moment, you first need to calm yourself, think straight, and choose the most effective solution: Contact a bail bondsman who can really help a lot in getting you out of jail.
You are allowed at least one telephone call after your arrest. Use that telephone call to get in touch with a family member and ask that person to reach out to a bail bond agent. Your loved one can use our website to find a reliable bail bond agent in Chapel Hill who can then post the required bail in your place to get you your freedom.
Why does a judge impose bail ?
The legal system allows the services of a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help a defendant gain temporary freedom while waiting for their court appearance.
The judicial system allows two types of bail -- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a court does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged crime. You are still innocent till proven guilty. Nevertheless, the judge needs to have an assurance that you will appear in court to face your accuser; thus, the requirement to post bail. If you participate in all of your scheduled criminal proceedings as required, and you are eventually acquitted, the bail will be given back to you. If you are found guilty, the bail amount will be used to pay for the penalties and fines that the judge might enforce on you. When you miss the court appearances, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
The same justification applies to civil bail bonds. The bail enforced on civil cases functions as an assurance or a surety that the offender will be capable to pay the fines and penalties that the judge might enforce on the accused after the trial.
Should I hire a bondsman?
When you are able to put up bail by yourself, you certainly don't have to employ the services of a bonding company. For one, they ask a fee for their assistance, as well as the collateral you need to provide for what is undoubtedly classified as a loan.
In almost all states, the bail bondsman will charge a rate of about 10-20% of the total amount of the bail bond. You will not get this back even when you are acquitted of the offense. However, you don't need to stress over filing the paperwork or dealing with court staff since the bail bondsman will take care of all that for you. Secondly, you will have a better prospect of getting your bail application approved by virtue of the credibility and reputation of the bondsman alone. Thirdly, because of their experience with the process, you can be out of jail in a couple of hours.
Finally, the bail bondsman understands the benefit of a good impression on the judge and jury. If you are committed to the regional or federal prison, you will be hauled to the courthouse in the official prisoner's jumpsuit. In contrast, when you are out on a bail bond, you can dress smartly and ensure a good first impression on the court.
How the bail bonds process works
To begin the bail bonds procedure, you first have to search for a bail agent. You can do that in person, over the phone and even online. Given the stringent adherence to professionalism, a 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 process. As soon as the bail agent answered all of your questions to your complete satisfaction, the bail bondsman will deal with all of the procedures crucial to get you or your loved one released from jail.
To make certain all goes well, a bondsman needs to know the offender's name, birthdate, and the location or area of the arrest. With this information, the bail bondsman will be able to get additional information from the jail system needed to secure the release. After dealing with all the formalities, the bail bondsman will go over to the jail to get the offender released.
Utilizing a bondsman to bail out yourself or somebody you know is that straightforward, you can be out of prison and reunited with your loved ones in a few hours.
What information do I need when calling a bonding company?
When contacting a bondsman, make sure you know:
- The full name of the offender
- The name of the prison the offender is jailed in
- The booking number
- The charges
- Any other relevant information you can think of
What is accepted as collateral?
In most cases, the bail bondsman requires collateral with the deal. This is reasonable taking into account the risks that are involved. An offender is a flight risk, and there have been many occasions where a bail bondsman had to hire a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing defendant.
But what is accepted as collateral? Essentially, when a bondsman considers something valuable, you can use it as collateral for the bail bond. Listed below are a few examples:
- Realty
- Cars
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you have trouble paying for the bond, bail bonds companies usually offer payment plans that you can use. Just speak with the bondsman to figure out which option is the best one in your situation.
You can use this website to find a bail bondsman that is perfect for your needs. Almost all of them operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to assist you or a friend to spend the as little time as possible in jail.
