Bail bonds
In its essence, a bail bond is a sort of promise that you will attend the hearing at the date specified. In return, you will be permitted to walk free despite the fact that you are still undergoing trial for a criminal or civil charge. Otherwise, you will stay prison while waiting for the court to decide on either acquittal or conviction. A bail bondsman can put up bail for you and get you out of jail.
Depending upon the allegation, the amount of bail could be high. Very few defendants are able to post the bail bond. There's a good reason why the correctional system is overloaded. But there's a legal solution to gain your temporary release from prison even if your lawsuit is ongoing. With our site you can look for a reliable bonding company in Auburn.
Why does a judge impose bail ?
The legal system allows the services of a bondsman to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help a defendant get temporary freedom while awaiting their court hearing.
The judicial system allows two kinds of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a judge does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your supposed crime. You are still innocent until proven guilty. Having said that, the judge requires an assurance that you will appear at trial to face your accuser; thus, the need to post bail. If you participate in all of your arranged criminal procedures as required, and you are eventually acquitted, the bail amount will be given back to you. In the case that you are found guilty, the bail money will be used to pay for the penalties and fines that the judge may enforce on you. When you skip the court hearings, the bail will be lost and you will be subject to getting arrested.
The same justification applies to civil bail bonds. The bail enforced on civil cases functions as an assurance or a surety that the defendant will be able to pay the fines and penalties that the judge may impose on the offender after the trial.
Do I need to hire a bondsman?
If you are able to post bail on your own, you don't need to work with a bail bondsman. For one, they require a small fee for their assistance, in addition to the collateral you need to provide for what is definitely categorized as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bondsman will charge a rate of about 10-20% of the total amount of the bail bond. You can't get this refunded even if you are cleared of the offense. However, you do not need to bother with filing the paperwork or need to deal with court staff because the bail bondsman will take care of all that for you. Secondly, you will have a better prospect of getting your bail request approved by virtue of the reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Thirdly, because of their experience with the process, you can possibly be released from jail in a matter of hours .
Lastly, the bonding company understands the importance of a good impression on the judge and jury. If you are transferred to the regional or federal prison, you are going to be transported to the courtroom in the official inmate's uniform. In contrast, if you made bail, you are able to dress well and make a good first impression on the court.
How does the bail bonds process work?
To start the bail bonds procedure, you first need to get a bonding comany. 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 procedure and iron out any reservations that you might have.
Time is of the essence during this procedure. Once the bail agent addressed all of your questions to your complete satisfaction, the bail bondsman will deal with all of the formalities necessary to get you or your loved one released from prison.
To ensure all goes smoothly, a bail bondsman needs to know the defendant's name, birthdate, and the location or city of the arrest. With this information, the agent will be able to gather extra information from the jail system required to secure the release. After managing all the formalities, the bail bondsman will go over to the prison to get the defendant released.
Utilizing a bail bondsman to bail out yourself or someone you know is that simple, you can be out of prison and reunited with your loved ones in a few hours.
What your bondsman needs to have from you
When you or a friend get in contact with a bonding company, they will ask the following questions:
- The full name of the offender
- The name and location of the prison where the defendant is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The complaints filed against the suspect
- Any other important info
What does a bonding company accept as collateral?
Not everyone will have the money lying around to pay a bonding company, but that does not mean you can not use one to get yourself or another person out of prison. If you don't have sufficient money, you can also put up a number of your assets as collateral. Some items ordinarily accepted as collateral are:
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Visa or mastercard
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
Additionally, most bail bondsmen will also provide you with the possibility for a payment plan that you can afford and does not add more stress during these difficult times.
The bail bonds process can be complicated and every bit as wearisome, but the good news is that a lot of bonding companies are ready to assist you 24×7. With our site you can look for a reliable bonding company in Auburn. They will be more than happy to help you get you or your loved one from prison!
