Bail Bonds in South Dakota


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Bail bonds

Essentially, a bail bond is a type of promise that you will show up at the court hearing at the specified date. In return, you will be allowed to remain free even if you are still awaiting trial for a criminal or civil charge. Without a bail bond, you will remain jail while waiting on the court to decide on either conviction or acquittal. A bondsman can pay bail for you and get you released from jail.

Depending on the allegation, the amount of bail could be expensive. Few suspects can put up the bail. There's a reason why the penal system is overloaded. But there's a lawful way to gain your temporary freedom even if your case is on-going. Using our site you can search for a respectable bondsman in South Dakota.

Why does a judge impose a bail bond ?

The judicial system permits the services of a bondsman to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help a suspect gain temporary freedom while waiting for their court appearance.

The legal system allows two types of bail -- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.

To be clear, a court does not require a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged criminal offense. You are still presumed innocent till proven guilty. However, the court needs to have a guarantee that you will appear in court to face your accuser; thus, the need to post bail. If you participate in all of your arranged criminal proceedings as promised, and you are in the end acquitted, the bail will be returned to you. If you are condemned, the bail money will be used to cover the fines and penalties that the court might impose on you. If you miss the court appearances, your bail will be lost and you will be subject to arrest.

The same justification applies to civil bail bonds. The bail enforced on civil cases serves as a guarantee or a surety that the accused will have the ability to pay the fines and penalties that the court might impose on the offender after the trial.

A bail bondsman is your way to freedom

A bondsman is your quick link to freedom after your arrest. If you don't possess sufficient cash to pay the bail yourself and gain temporary freedom, your best course of action is a reputable bail bondsman that will cover the bail for you. Most bail bond companies ask a fee of 10% of the total bail amount. That is no more than fair, considering the risk the bondsman is taking in providing the bond. If you do not show up at trial, the judge will forfeit the bail put up by the bonding company. Anyway, you need not bother yourself with the finances now. Your most immediate concern is to get yourself released from jail, and a trusted bail bondsman can make that happen.

Additionally, you need not trouble yourself with the tricky judicial procedure in putting up bail since the bonding company will deal with that to help with your release from prison. All that needs to be done is for you or your representative to get in touch with a reputable bail bondsman. That agent will propose you a deal, proposing to put up your bail to get you released from jail in return for a small fee. With your permission, the bail bondsman will then put up the bail on your behalf, releasing you from custody.

You still will have to go to your court hearing though. However, you will be coming to court in civilian clothes and not in a prison jumpsuit. That could boost your confidence as you deliver your defense. Aside from that, the judge presiding over your case will tend to have a more good impression of you, rather than if you were to appear in court dressed in jail attire, appearing like you're already guilty of the crime you're charged with even before the court can make a ruling. You can say thanks to your bondsman for this.

How the bail bonds process works

Bear in mind: When you are arrested and taken into custody for an alleged criminal offense, straight away ask for an attorney to represent you and protect your civil rights. Also, get in touch with a reliable person to link you up with a bondsman to start the bail procedure. Once this is done, the bail bondsman will want answers to general questions such as the accused's name, date of birth, and the place or city of the arrest. The bondsman will then propose to post the bail money in your place in return for a service fee. Right after the deal is made, the bondsman will move forward with the actions to secure your release from prison. Within hours, after the actions taken by your bail bondsman, you can walk out of prison, a free man once again.

What information should I have when getting in touch with a bail bondsman?

When calling a bondsman, ensure you know:

  • The full name of the defendant
  • The name of the jail the accused is incarcerated in
  • The booking number
  • The charges
  • Any other relevant info you can think of

What does a bondsman accept as collateral?

Not everyone will have the cash lying around to pay a bail bondsman, but that does not mean you can not utilize one to get yourself or another person out of prison. If you do not have sufficient cash, you can also put up a few of your possessions as collateral. Some items usually accepted as collateral are:

  • Real estate
  • Vehicles
  • Visa or mastercard
  • Stocks
  • Bonds
  • Jewelry
  • Personal credit
  • Bank accounts

Additionally, most bail bondsmen will also supply you with the possibility for a payment plan that is within your budget and does not add more pressure during these trying times.

The bail bonds process can be confusing and just as wearisome, however the bright side is that a lot of bondsmen are ready to support you 24×7. With our site you can search for a respectable bondsman in South Dakota. They will be more than happy to help you secure you or your loved one from jail!


Cities in South Dakota

Counties in South Dakota