Bail bonds
When you are detained for a severe criminal offense, you will need to stay in prison while awaiting the bail hearing. During the bail hearing, the judge will determine the amount of bail that will give you temporary freedom. If you or your family can raise the money, then there's no problem. But if you don't have any available funds, you will be forced to remain behind bars while awaiting your court hearing -- a scary thing to consider. Luckily, there is a solution: You or a friend can look for assistance from a bondsman who can post your bail to the court, to allow you temporary freedom.
But how do you contact a bail bondsman ? That's where our website can help: We will help you search for a trusted and reliable bail bond agent in McCook County who can pay the needed bail to allow you to get released from prison.
What is a bail bond
A bail bond will allow a defendant to be released from the custody of the police along with some preconditions specified by the judge. For one, the suspect is not allowed to get out of the state while the lawsuit is still ongoing. If the defendant takes off or fails to show up at the trial in spite of repeated summons, the judge is going to forfeit the bail bond.
The bail bond applies to both criminal and civil charges. By taking on the the surety, the bail bondsman in McCook County is answerable to the court in case the accused runs.
Should I hire a bondsman?
If you are able to pay bail by yourself, you certainly don't need to have to work with a bondsman. For one, they ask a small fee for their service, as well as the collateral you need to provide for what is certainly classified as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bail bondsman will charge a fee of around 10-20% of the total amount of the bail. You will not get this back even when you are acquitted of the offense. On the upside, you don't need to worry about filing the paperwork or have to deal with court staff because the bonding company will take care of all that for you. Second, you will have a better prospect of having your bail request accepted because of the credibility and reputation of the bonding company alone. Third, as a result of their familiarity with the process, you can be released from jail in a couple of hours.
And lastly, the bonding company knows the benefit of a good first impression while appearing in court. If you are committed to the regional or federal jail, you will be transported to the courthouse in the official prisoner's uniform. On the other hand, when you are out on a bail bond, you are able to dress smartly and ensure a good first impression on the judge and jury.
How does the bail bond process work?
Choosing the right bail agent is very important. Sadly, there are deceitful agents out there who prey on unsuspicious people who are already desperate for help.
So be prepared when you speak with a bondsman. Ask all questions you might have, and only once all your questions are answered should you continue with the next steps of employing them. The bail bondsman can then continue with posting the bail and filing the necessary documents to get you or your loved one released.
What info do I need when calling a bonding company?
When getting in touch with a bail bondsman, make sure you know:
- The full name of the defendant
- The name of the prison the defendant is incarcerated in
- The booking number
- The charges
- Any other relevant information you can think of
What is accepted as collateral?
Almost always, the bondsman will ask for collateral with the transaction. This is reasonable taking into account the risks that are involved. An offender is a possible flight risk, and there have been countless occasions where a bonds company had to employ a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing offender.
But what is acceptable as collateral? Basically, if a bondsman considers something valuable, you are able to use it as a guarantee for the bail. Below are a couple of examples:
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Stocks
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you have trouble paying for the bail bond, bail bonds companies have payment options that you can make use of. Simply speak with the bail bondsman to figure out what option is best suited in your circumstances.
You can use this site to look for a bondsman that will be perfect for your needs. Many of them are open 24/7, ready to assist you or a friend to spend the as little time as possible in prison.
