Bail bonds
When a person is incarcerated and booked for a serious criminal offense, they must wait in jail up until a bail hearing. It is at this bail hearing that the judge determines the bail amount. If that individual can't raise the amount of money, they need to remain in prison until their court date. But that does not always need to be the case; they can also seek out the help of a bail bondsman.
Regrettably, most people end up staying in jail until their court appearance due to the fact that most do not have a large sum of money sitting around in the bank.
Our site will assist you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to reliable and cost effective bail bond representatives in Oconee County.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The law permits a bail bondsman to put up a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help those apprehended and charged with a crime get temporarily released from prison while awaiting their court hearing.
The law allows two types of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a judge does not require a criminal bail bond to penalize you for your supposed crime. You are still innocent up until proven guilty. That being said, the court requires an assurance that you will appear 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 in the end 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 court might impose on you. When you skip the court hearings, the bail will be lost and you will be subject to arrest.
However, the civil bail bonds enforced on civil cases function as a guarantee or a surety with the court where the debts, claims, and costs imposed on the accused can be taken from.
A bail bondsman is your way to freedom
A bail bondsman is your quick link to getting out of prison after your apprehension. When you do not have sufficient cash to bail yourself out and gain temporary liberty, your best course of action is a trusted bonding company that will pay the bail in your place. Most bail bond companies request a fee of 10% of the total bail amount. That is no more than fair, taking into consideration the risk the bonding company is taking in putting up the bond. If you don't show up in court, the judge will forfeit the bail posted by the bondsman. In any case, you need not worry yourself with the financial calculations right now. Your immediate concern is to get yourself released from prison, and a trustworthy bondsman can make that happen for you.
Furthermore, you do not need to worry yourself with the complicated judicial process in posting bail because the bail bondsman will take care of that to assist in your release from jail. All that needs to be done is for you or your representative to call a reliable bondsman. That person will offer you a deal, offering to post your bail to get you out of prison in return for a small fee. With your permission, the bondsman will then put up the bail on your behalf, releasing you from custody.
You still must show up at your court hearing though. But you will be arriving at court in normal clothes and not in a prison jumpsuit. That can increase your confidence as you deliver your defense. Aside from that, the judge hearing your case will tend to have a more positive impression of you, rather than if you were to show up in court dressed in jail attire, seeming like you're already guilty of the criminal offense you're indicted for even before the judge can come to a decision. You can say thanks to your bail bondsman for making this possible.
How does the bail bond process work?
Choosing the right bail agent is very important. Unfortunately, there are deceitful companies out there who prey on unsuspecting people who are already desperate for help.
Make sure you are ready when you speak with a bonding company. Ask all your questions, and only once all your questions are answered should you continue with the subsequent steps of employing them. They can then start with posting the bail and filing the necessary papers to get you or a family member released.
What info does a bail bondsman need?
When you speak with a bondsman, they will need to know:
- The full name and age of the accused
- The prison where the offender is locked up
- The booking number and the charge
What is accepted as collateral?
Almost always, the bonding company requires collateral with the transaction. This is understandable, considering the risks involved. An offender is a possible flight risk, and there have been plenty of examples where a bail bondsman had to hire a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing defendant.
But what is accepted as collateral? Basically, when a bondsman considers something valuable, you are able to use it as collateral for the bond. Listed below are a few examples:
- Realty
- Autos
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronic devices
- Bank accounts
- Visa or mastercard
If you can't afford the bail bond right now, bonding companies often offer payment options that you can make use of. Simply speak with the bail bondsman to figure out what option is the best one when it comes to your situation.
You can use this website to find a bonding company that will be perfect for your needs. Many of them operate 24x7, ready to help you or a friend to spend the as little time as possible in prison.
