What's A Bail Bond?

By Jack R Lawless


Bail bonds are pretty simple to comprehend. There really is very little involved when it comes to bail bonds. So we will start from the beginning.

When bail is set the individual that has been detained will have to put up a certain amount of money. Depending on the significance of the misdeed the bail amount will vary and if that individual has committed a felony, then they will have to wait until they appear in front of the judge in order for bail to be set. Other factors are also going to come into play when establishing the bail amount, such as a reflection of any past criminal misdemeanors and whether that person is likely to flee.

If bail is set that person is free to go until the day of the trial. This is the part of the bond. So a bail bond really is a form of agreement that states that once bail has been paid to let the individual go, they have to appear before the judge in court. Now if they don't appear before the judge, your bail money will be forfeited and that individual will be transported back to jail for failing to appear in court.

Anyone can pay for an individuals bail, that includes friends, families, and relatives. There usually is a small processing fee that is paid as well. The full bail money minus the fees that you pay can be recovered if the person that was charged with the crime shows up to the appointed court date and is proclaimed innocent of the allegations. However, if proven to be guilty you lose the bail money and of course they go to jail or whatever sentence the judge deems befitting.

There are times when the bail amount is too much for someone. And this is where bail bonds companies show to be a valuable resource. Bail bond companies or bail bondsman will plunk down most of the bail amount with you only having to pay 10 % - 20 % of the bail amount. Now you won't get a refund of the amount you paid, but it saves you from having to pay the full bail out of your own pockets. And since the bail bonds company or bail bondsman is taking on the risk, it will be in their best interest for that individual to show up in court or else they lose their money.

If the person who has been set on bail neglects to appear before the court there will be a warrant issued for their arrest. And if the bail bondsman has helped to pay for the bail, they will in most cases send out a bounty hunter to haul that person back to jail.

This is the basics of what is a bail bond. I hope that is has been made clear for you. But if anything that you should remember out of this is that once you've paid bail for someone or for yourself and a court appearance is appointed, then it's critical in your best interest that you appear in court. Save yourself the trouble of getting locked up again.




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