Bail bonds
When an offender is detained, he or she will need to spend time in prison while waiting for a bail hearing. This hearing is a procedure in which the court will establish the amount of money that serves as an assurance to the court for the temporary freedom of the defendant. But not everyone can pay the requested amount, and if that's the case he or she will have to stay in jail throughout the trial. However, {it is possible to enlist the services of|you can make use of a bail bondsman to provide the bail bond.
On our website you can search for reputable bail bond agents in Columbia County that can make sure that you or your loved ones can be free, at least up till the sentencing.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after an arrest
The judicial system permits a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help those apprehended and charged with a criminal offense gain temporary freedom while awaiting their court appearance.
The law allows two sorts of bail -- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a judge does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your supposed criminal offense. You are still presumed innocent till proven guilty. Even so, the judge needs a guarantee that you will appear in court to face your accuser; thus, the need to post bail. If you show up at all your arranged criminal procedures as promised, and you are eventually acquitted, the bail amount will be given back to you. In the case that you are condemned, the bail money will be used to cover the fines and penalties that the court may enforce on you. If you miss the court hearings, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
On the contrary, the civil bail bonds enforced on civil cases serve as an assurance or a surety with the court where the financial obligations, claims, and costs enforced on the offender can be drawn from.
How beneficial is a bail bond?
A bonding company is your biggest hope to not spend considerable time in prison in case you don't have enough cash available to pay your bail. A bonding company typically requires a non-refundable fee of 10% of the bail amount. That is no more than reasonable, taking into consideration the risk the bondsman is taking in putting up the bail bond. Anyway, the most pressing concern is to get you out of prison, and for that need to search for a dependable bondsman in your local area.
A deal with a bonding company is also valuable given that the latter can help with your release from jail, simplifying a complicated judicial procedure. You can just contact a bail agent who will offer you an agreement and request you to provide the required information about yourself, or a person you want to bail out of prison. In case you approve the contract, you can just relax and wait for the bail bondsman to put up the bail on your behalf.
Needless to say you still have to show up at your hearing. However, now that you're out on a bond, you can show up in court in your own clothes. When you had stayed in jail because you could not pay bail, you would show up in court in a jail uniform-- and that's not a pretty sight to see. A bail bondsman allows you to make a decent appearance in court, which matters a lot because first impressions matter.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding a good bail bondsman is very important. Sadly, there are deceitful agents around who take advantage of unsuspecting families that are already desperate for help.
Make sure you are ready when you contact a bonding company. Ask all questions you might have, and only once all your questions are answered should you continue with the next steps of hiring their services. They can then proceed with posting the bail and filing the required paperwork to get you or a family member released from jail.
What info do I need when getting in touch with a bondsman?
When calling a bondsman, make sure you have:
- The full name of the accused
- The name of the prison the defendant is jailed in
- The booking number
- The charges
- Any other relevant info you can think of
What is accepted as collateral?
Almost always, the bail bondsman requires collateral with the transaction. This is understandable, taking into account the risks involved. A prisoner is a flight risk, and there have been countless examples where a bonds company had to hire a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing defendant.
But what is acceptable as collateral? Basically, if a bondsman considers an asset valuable, you can use it as collateral for the bond. Below are a couple of examples:
- Realty
- Vehicles
- Stocks
- Jewelry
- Electronic devices
- Bank accounts
- Visa or mastercard
If you have trouble paying for the bail bond, bonding companies have payment options that you can make use of. Simply speak with the bondsman to determine which option is the best one in your situation.
Use this site to search for a bondsman that will be perfect for you. Almost all of them are open 24/7, ready to help you or a friend to spend the as little time as possible in prison.
